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Christian Quarter, Aleppo
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Christian Quarter, Aleppo

Christian Quarter tips and photos posted by real travelers and Aleppo locals.
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Christian Quarter: Hushed alleys and lively squares
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  • TheWanderingCamel
  • By TheWanderingCamel on April 13, 2005
  • Aleppo Page by TheWanderingCamel
  • Silent stones - Aleppo
    Silent stones
    by TheWanderingCamel
    The busy squares, church plazas and main shopping streets in the Christian (Jdaide) quarter are a great contrast to the narrow stone-lined lanes that connect them. Here all is hushed and very private but behind the high walls and solid doors are beautiful old houses and courtyards, some of which are now hotels and restaurants that you can visit, even if you are not staying or eating there. In Sissi Street you'll find the Beit Wakil Hotel, the most authentically restored of all of these. Others are schools, and if you knock and ask politely it may be possible to have a peek inside. We were invited in to the school across the way from the Beit Wakil to hear the Patriarch of the Armenian Church address the assembled students and their parents in the lovely tree-shaded courtyard there. Something similar may come your way.

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    Christian Quarter: Church bells and incense
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  • TheWanderingCamel
  • By TheWanderingCamel on April 25, 2005
  • Aleppo Page by TheWanderingCamel
  • Maronite Cathedral - Aleppo
    Maronite Cathedral
    by TheWanderingCamel
    There is a surprising variety of churches and cathedrals in Aleppo's Christian Quarter - Armenian Catholic, Greek Catholic, Syrian Catholic, Latin Catholic; Maronites; Syrian Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox; Chaldeans and even a small Protestant presence. Most are crowded together in the Jdaide Quarter, the legacy of Syria's early Christian heritage, Ottoman tolerance and the refuge given to the survivors of the Turkish massacres of the Armenians in the first quarter of the 20th century.

    Nowadays Syria is one of the few Middle Eastern countries where Christian may not only practice their religion freely , but may build new churches and educate their children in church schools.

    A walk through the Jdaide on a Sunday morning, when the church bells are ringing and everyone is off to church, is to think yorself in another world.

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  • Directions: The Maronite and Greek Catholic churches are near each other on Saahat Farat. The 40 Martyrs Armenian Church is on Harat al-Yasmin
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    Christian Quarter: Beit Wakil: Aleppine glory restored
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  • Tijavi
  • By Tijavi on December 18, 2007
  • Aleppo Page by Tijavi
  • Beit Wakil's magnificent domed ceiling - Aleppo
    Beit Wakil's magnificent
    domed ceiling
    by Tijavi,
    4 more photos
    If you don't have the budget or staying in restored places is not your thing, you might still want to visit Beit Wakil at the Al Jdeida area. This boutique hotel is a lovingly-restored 18th century mini-palace that offers a great chance to see how life used to be lived behind Al Jdeida's walled homes.

    Beyond the 'ordinary' black Aleppine door, almost everything here is extraordinary - the domed ceiling over the main lobby soars to about three floors high, the lovely courtyard surrounded by latticed vine-covered balcony, the intricate stonework on the walls - you get the idea. The staff are friendly and do allow non-guests to wonder around the hotel.

    The hotel also houses a good restaurant (see restuarant tip) and an underground bar.

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  • Directions: About 20 meters from Beit Sissi (another famous Al Jdeida restored home that now hosts a restaurant) along the narrow Sharia as-Sissi (to your left).
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    Christian Quarter: Al Jdeida: Allepo's most charming area
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  • Tijavi
  • Updated By Tijavi on December 18, 2007
  • Aleppo Page by Tijavi
  • Intimate passages - Aleppo
    Intimate passages
    by Tijavi,
    4 more photos
    Literally "the new" in Arabic, Al Jdeida is relatively younger than the city's old quarters (area around the Great Mosque and Citadel) built mainly during the Ottoman period. It is a charming area of narrow stone-laden streets and intimate high-walled passages occasionally criss-crossed by vaulted archways. Blazing red mailboxes as well as flashy doorw with their ubiquitous clenched fist knockers - an Allepine icon (see opening picture) - add color and character to the place.

    From these alleys, the whole place may seem deserted as most of the activities take place inside the wall-enclosed living quarters that look inward into trellised courtyards. Some of these homes, such as Beit Wakil, have been restored and converted to commercial uses such as hotels and restaurants. Beit Wakil is now a boutique hotel (with a very good restaurant - see restaurant tips), and is open to visitors who wish to have a glimpse of how grand these houses are (see separate tip on Beit Wakil). Al Jdeida is the traditional haunt of affluent merchant families, mainly Christians (hence, the place is called Christian Quarters sometimes) and money was certainly no object during the construction of these mini-palaces.

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  • Directions: From Sharia Bab an Nasr turn right on the narrow street signposted Al Jdeida. If you're taking a cab, tell the driver to take you to Saahat al-Hattab, the area's main square.
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    Christian Quarter: The Maronite Church
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  • Tijavi
  • By Tijavi on December 18, 2007
  • Aleppo Page by Tijavi
  • Facade of Maronite Church - Aleppo
    Facade of Maronite Church
    by Tijavi,
    4 more photos
    Within Al Jdeida, the Christian quarter, is the Maronite Church, built in the 19th century - certainly a new building relative to other points of interest in the old city and even within Al Jdeida itself. Except for symbolisms relating to Muslim-Christian mix of Syrian societies (and I should say, a model version of harmony), the church has little to offer in terms of architectural qualities. Spend a few minutes here to view the stained glass icon on the altar's ceiling, the Arabic-designed main door, and the sword-wielding statue of St Elie on the church courtyard.

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  • Address: On Saahat Farhat
  • Directions: From Saahat al-Hattab in central Al Jdeida, take the small nameless alley towards the west until you reach Saahat Farhat.
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    Christian Quarter: Bayt Ajiqbash
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  • maykal
  • By maykal on October 30, 2003
  • Aleppo Page by maykal
  • Bayt Ajiqbash - Aleppo
    Bayt Ajiqbash
    by maykal
    In the Christian Quarter known as Jdeida, there are many beautiful old houses...one of them, Bayt Ajiqbash, has been renovated and turned into a museum. The museum exhibits were the standard Syrian affair of stuffed dummies modelling old clothes and unlabelled bits and pieces, but what you are really there to see is the house itself, which is a beautiful old pile built around a central courtyard filled with fountains and trees.

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    Christian Quarter: Jdeideh Quarter
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  • MM212
  • Updated By MM212 on August 9, 2007
  • Aleppo Page by MM212
  • Archway in Jdeideh - Aleppo
    Archway in Jdeideh
    by MM212, 4 more photos
    Situated just to the north of the old city, the Jdeideh Quarter, which translates to "New" Quarter, isn't quite so new. It is a medieval district of town filled with charming narrow cobblestoned alleys, intricately decorated ancient façades and large mansions. The quarter was created in the 16th century (i.e., very "new" compared to the old city) initially to accommodate Christian immigrants, mostly Maronite and Armenians, who settled in Aleppo for its lucrative commercial opportunities. Christians held a special status in Aleppo by acting as intermediaries to European merchants which helped increase their community's wealth, as evidenced by the numerous palaces in this quarter. Jdeideh eventually became the main Christian neighbourhood of the city where many churches, of numerous sects, relocated. These sects include Maronite, Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic and Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Syriac and others. Although much of the Christian population (which makes up 25% of Aleppo's total) has now moved to the adjacent and newer Aziziyeh neighbourhood, Jdeideh has experienced a revival in recent years seeing many of its medieval domed mansions converted into restaurants and boutique hotels. Jdeideh now has some of Aleppo's best restaurants and its most charming hotels, as well as many antique shops.

  • Address: Jdeideh Quarter
  • Directions: North of the old city, next to Aziziyeh District
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    Christian Quarter: St. Elias Maronite Cathedral
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  • MM212
  • Updated By MM212 on July 30, 2007
  • Aleppo Page by MM212
  • St. Elias Maronite Cathedral - Aleppo
    St. Elias Maronite Cathedral
    by MM212, 2 more photos
    Built in 1873, the St. Elias Maronite Cathedral serves the Christian Maronite community of Aleppo. The cathedral is located in the heart of Jdeideh, the old Christian Quarter, and is one of the more prominent churches in Aleppo. Although not the largest Christian sect in the city, the Maronites are well represented and have strong ties to Lebanon. Their church is an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Pope.

  • Address: Al-Farhat Square, Jdeideh Quarter
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    Christian Quarter: Syriac Catholic Church
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  • MM212
  • Updated By MM212 on July 26, 2007
  • Aleppo Page by MM212
  • Christian Quarter - Aleppo
    by MM212
    The imposing Syriac Catholic Church dominates a large square on As-Sulaimaniya Street in the Aziziyeh District. It is a modern looking church, very unlike the traditional Aleppine style, and was probably built in the 1950s.

  • Address: As-Sulaimaniya Street, Aziziyeh District
  • Directions: In the new city, just north of Jdeideh Quarter
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    Christian Quarter: Tawhid Mosque
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  • MM212
  • Updated By MM212 on July 26, 2007
  • Aleppo Page by MM212
  • al-Tawhid Mosque - Aleppo
    al-Tawhid Mosque
    by MM212
    With its four slender minarets and silver domes, al-Tawhid Mosque is quite the looker. This elegant mosque, of relatively recent construction, is located in the predominantly Christian neighbourhood of Aziziyeh amid several churches. It is a testament to the exemplary religious tolerance of Syrian society.

  • Address: al-Tawhid Square, Aziziyeh
  • Directions: Where Matild Salem Street and Ri'ayet al-Shabab Street intersect
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