Washington, SANA- US New York Times issued on Saturday an article on Aleppo entitled "Tourists Return to Ancient Crossroads in Syria" considering what make Aleppo distinguished is the mixture of civilization and historical accumulation. New York Times quoted author Lionel Beehner as saying "Aleppo may boast the Arab world’s most impressive souk, a sprawling network of noisy corridors and cramped stalls where, for the past seven centuries, every kind of spice, sweet, soap, silk, dried fruit, carpet, metal, jewelry and water pipe imaginable has been sold. If you’ve ever wondered what a slab of camel meat looks or smells like, just wander through the butcher section. And unlike bazaars in Istanbul or Cairo, Aleppo’s functions as an actual market, not a tourist trap."

What makes Aleppo unique is its blend of Ottoman, Armenian and French influences, owing to its historic position at the crossroads of empires. Bright-green domed mosques rub shoulders with Armenian cathedrals, Maronite churches and even a synagogue. Its setting amid rolling plains dotted with olive groves and the ruins of dead cities calls to mind a scene out of “One Thousand and One Nights.”

The souk is a city unto itself. Old looms turn yarn into splashy-colored textiles, parrots squawk in cages. A buffet of scents — the sweet perfume of smoke, the laurel-like smell of olive soap — follows visitors.

The best time to visit Aleppo’s Old City may be in early morning, when the stalls are shuttered and their inlaid, ornately carved wooden doors become visible. At this hour, the city’s ruddy cobblestone streets go silent, save for the Arabic pop music blaring from a nearby barbershop, and the floral patterns of the enclosed balconies come into focus.

After a visit to the Grand Mosque, peek into any of the black-and-white stone archways to check out the courtyards of Aleppo’s khans (inns), full of jasmine and citrus trees. Or climb the stone bridge to the citadel, an imposing hilltop fortress completed in the 13th century. Buried within its ruins are a palace, hammam (bathhouse), temple, dungeon and two mosques. But the best reason to visit is the view of Aleppo’s minaret-dotted skyline.

Afterward, men can head to the restored Hammam el Nahasin for a relaxing massage or steam bath and for a nice chaser, swing by the all-night juice stand on Bab al-Faraj square.

The center of town is divided into three main parts: New City, Old City and Al-Jdeida, the old Christian quarter. Guidebooks single out the Baron Hotel, erected in 1911, as the place to drink in New City.

For a more local crowd, head to Al-Aziziah, a district of New City teeming with crowded bars and cafes. On a Thursday evening last summer, a smartly dressed crowd, most of them students, smoked apple-scented narghiles, or water pipes, their eyes glued to Syrian soap operas playing on big screens or make your way over to Saahat al-Hatab, the main square of Al-Jdeida and maybe the most pleasant section of town. Children kick a ball around the square as old mustachioed men play backgammon late into the night. Some of Aleppo’s finest restaurants are tucked within courtyards along this quarter’s twisting back streets.

Aleppo cuisine reflects the city’s diverse history. It is not uncommon to order a half-dozen dishes in one sitting from as many culinary influences, which might include mezze, or appetizer dishes, of puréed dips with walnuts and hot peppers and main courses of soujouk (peppery sausage) and kibbeh (minced lamb).

Syria And a new wave of Aleppan restaurants is laying claim to rooftops and courtyards across town, while merchants’ houses from the Ottoman era are being converted into trendy boutique hotels.

“The whole infrastructure of tourism is improving dramatically,” said Joshua Landis, an American professor and Mideast expert who runs a popular blog called Syria Comment. “The spate of new boutique hotels and restaurants has shown the moneymaking potential of Aleppo’s Old City. But the pitch is to go now, before the masses arrive.”

“Aleppo has a rich mix of cultures,” said Karam Artin, 20, an interior design student who was singing at a newly opened karaoke bar bedecked in red velvet. “In a few years, this city will be swarming with tourists, and, hopefully, even more American visitors.”

Sana

RH