New Heritage Restoration Projects Announced for Aleppo and Tartous

Several important heritage sites in Aleppo and Tartous are set to receive new restoration and conservation work under agreements signed by Syria’s Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums.

The projects cover historic markets and Al-Halawiyah School in Aleppo’s Old City, the archaeological museum housed inside Tartous’s historic cathedral, and Al-Marqab Castle near Banias.

Beyond repairing historic buildings, the agreements also include archaeological research, professional training, support for traditional crafts and plans to return some of these places to a more active cultural role.

What has been announced?

The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums signed two separate cooperation agreements.

The first was signed with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture–Syria and focuses on heritage sites in Aleppo and Tartous.

The second was signed with a Hungarian archaeological mission led by archaeologist Balázs Major of Pázmány Péter Catholic University. It concerns renewed excavation and restoration work at Al-Marqab Castle.

According to the announcement, the projects are intended to preserve the architectural character of the sites, develop long-term conservation plans and involve local communities in their future use.

Reviving Aleppo’s historic markets

Part of the work will focus on a group of historic markets within Aleppo’s Old City.

Aleppo’s covered markets were once among the most active commercial spaces in the region. They were not simply places to shop; they were closely connected to the city’s crafts, neighbourhoods and social life.

The new agreement includes restoring selected market areas using methods intended to preserve their original building materials and architectural identity.

There are also plans to encourage cultural and commercial activity after restoration, helping the markets function again rather than remaining preserved as empty monuments. Training programmes for local craftspeople and support for traditional professions form part of the project.

For visitors, this matters because the experience of Aleppo’s Old City depends on more than individual monuments. Its character comes from the relationship between the markets, workshops, religious buildings, caravanserais and daily life surrounding them.

A new role for Al-Halawiyah School

The agreement also covers the restoration of Al-Halawiyah School, one of the historic religious and architectural landmarks of Aleppo’s Old City.

The plan is not limited to repairing the structure. Authorities say the building will be prepared for cultural and educational use, giving it an active role after the restoration is completed.

This approach can help protect historic buildings over the long term. A monument that is used, maintained and connected to its surrounding community may be easier to preserve than one that remains permanently closed.

The announcement has not yet provided a completion date or confirmed when the site will become fully accessible to visitors.

Preparing Tartous Museum to receive visitors

Another major part of the agreement concerns the archaeological museum in Tartous.

The museum occupies a remarkable historic building originally constructed as a cathedral during the 12th century. Over its long history, the structure was also used as a mosque and later as a military store before becoming a museum in the 1950s. Its large stone columns and arches remain among the most distinctive examples of medieval architecture on the Syrian coast.

The new project aims to prepare the museum to receive visitors again and host cultural activities and events. Work will include conservation measures, improved safety and accessibility, and plans for ongoing maintenance.

This could eventually add an important cultural stop to itineraries combining Tartous, Arwad and the wider Syrian coast.

However, travellers should understand that the announcement concerns restoration and preparation. It does not yet provide a confirmed reopening date or regular visitor schedule.

Excavations and restoration to resume at Al-Marqab Castle

A separate agreement will restart archaeological excavation and restoration at Al-Marqab Castle, overlooking the Mediterranean near Banias.

The work will be carried out in cooperation with a Hungarian archaeological mission and is expected to include:

Archaeological surveys and excavations.
Structural restoration.
Documentation of the site.
Exhibition spaces.
Training for Syrian specialists.
Modern conservation techniques.

The aim is to protect the castle while improving its cultural and tourism potential.

Al-Marqab is one of Syria’s most dramatic medieval fortresses, known for its dark basalt walls and commanding position above the coast. Its location makes it a natural stop on journeys between Tartous, Banias and Latakia.

A local rehabilitation campaign had already taken place shortly before the agreement was announced. Volunteers and public bodies participated in clearing dry vegetation, removing waste and reducing fire risks around the castle ahead of the tourism season.

Training local craftspeople and specialists

One of the most promising aspects of the agreements is the emphasis on skills and local participation.

The projects include training for:

Traditional craftspeople.
Archaeologists and conservators.
Documentation specialists.
Restoration workers.
Local professionals involved in managing historic sites.

International experts are expected to work alongside Syrian teams, with the goal of transferring technical knowledge rather than carrying out isolated repairs and leaving.

The Aleppo projects also aim to support traditional trades connected to the historic markets. This could help protect both the buildings and the intangible heritage associated with them.

Restoring a market is more meaningful when its workshops, crafts and economic life are also able to return.

Why this matters for tourism

Heritage restoration is not only about preserving the past. It can also affect how visitors experience a destination and how local communities benefit from tourism.

Well-managed conservation projects can:

Reopen landmarks that have been inaccessible.
Improve safety and visitor facilities.
Create work for local craftspeople and specialists.
Encourage shops and workshops to return.
Support museums and cultural events.
Give travellers more reasons to spend time outside the main tourist centres.

The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums has described heritage conservation as part of a wider investment in cultural tourism and local economic development.

The agreements also fit within Syria’s broader heritage strategy, which emphasizes documentation, community participation, international cooperation and sustainable cultural tourism.

Can tourists visit these places now?

The announcement should not be understood as confirmation that every location is fully restored or open under normal visitor conditions.

The projects are at different stages:

Aleppo’s markets remain part of the wider Old City experience, although restoration and access can vary by section.
Al-Halawiyah School is due to undergo rehabilitation for future cultural and educational use.
Tartous Museum is being prepared to receive visitors, but no confirmed reopening date has been announced.
Work at Al-Marqab Castle will include renewed excavation and structural restoration, which may affect access to certain areas.

Travellers should therefore check current opening conditions before including a specific site in their plans.

At Syrian Guides, we verify access locally and adjust visits when restoration work, closures or safety restrictions affect a monument.

A broader effort to restore Syria’s heritage

Officials say the new partnerships may also strengthen conservation work at other important sites, including Palmyra Museum, Krak des Chevaliers, Deir ez-Zor Museum, Damascus Citadel and further sections of Aleppo’s historic markets.

Not all of these locations are covered directly by the two newly signed agreements, but they form part of a wider effort to restore, document and return Syria’s cultural heritage to public use.

For travellers, the most encouraging aspect is that the projects connect restoration with education, crafts, museums and local economic life.

The strongest heritage projects are not those that simply repair stone walls. They are those that help historic places become meaningful parts of their cities again.

Syrian Guides will update this article when completion dates, reopening arrangements or new visitor information are officially announced.