Aleppo, Syria, Silk Road

Aleppo is the oldest continuously inhabited city on this journey, stretching back an astonishing 5,000 years. Given its strategic location in Syria between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, it is no surprise that Aleppo has been fought over and conquered by countless kingdoms and empires, from the Babylonians and Romans to the Arabs and Mongols. As a result of these diverse influences, Aleppo absorbed a wide variety of cultural elements reflected in its architecture, from the Roman-inspired arches of the ancient Citadel to the Islamic calligraphy in the Great Mosque and the Ottoman-era caravanserais.

During the Medieval Islamic period, it became an important city under the Ayyubid dynasty (12th century). It was founded by the legendary Kurdish military leader Salah ad-Din, better known as Saladin. As the first Sultan of Syria, Saladin unified parts of the Islamic world and Egypt, bringing stability to the region and fostering the growth of thriving trade hubs like Aleppo. 

While bustling marketplaces have existed in Aleppo since Roman times, they truly took shape during the Ayyubid dynasty, were further expanded under the Ottomans and still exist today. Known as souks, these markets became the heart of the city's economy and social life, where goods passing along the Silk Road were exchanged. Chinese silk and porcelain, Italian glass, Central Asian cotton, and local products like Aleppo's famed soap were traded and carried to other destinations by caravans arriving and departing from the city.

The interior architecture of a souk has not changed much, featuring narrow, winding passageways with high vaulted ceilings made of stone or wood, providing shade and protection from the elements. Natural light and ventilation are filtered through open windows in the ceilings. Stalls are housed in traditional stone or brick structures along the passageways with carved wooden shutters, while the floors are cobbled, worn smooth by centuries of foot traffic. The design is both practical and atmospheric. 

Souks were often named after professions or crafts. One such example is Souq al-Saboun, a soap market built in the early 16th century that continues to be the main centre of Aleppo's soap production. Although the origin of its production is unclear – some say it dates to the 7th to 8th centuries – Aleppo soap is highly regarded for its quality. Made from laurel oil, olive oil, and lye, the soap is handcrafted and hand-cut, then aged for 6-12 months. The simplicity of the ingredients gives it natural, nourishing qualities, and the reduction of moisture during the aging process produces a hard bar soap that is also long-lasting.