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Aleppo
has always been famous as the center of trade between the east and west. Not once in its long history has the commercial movement come to a stand still or experienced slack.
This urged its rulers and governors to establish market places and trading inns that are still in existence and are a witness of the commercial standing of Aleppo and its ability to adjust to the high commercial standards of the European kingdoms and countries of that era.
These kingdoms opened agencies or branches in Aleppo where they had their communities settled. The French settled in
"Khan Al Habbal " inn of the rope makers, the Belgians in" Khan Al nahhasin" inn of the brass smiths, and the English in Khan Al jemruk , inn of customs ...etc .
These inns served as trading places for those kingdoms and countries. The construction of the old city's souks in the thirteenth century AD in the form of parallel streets with cross roads in between helped further activate the commercial movement in Aleppo.
These souks cover an area of 750 meters long and 350 meters wide. They are all covered and are still the heart of business in Aleppo. They are considered the longest covered souks in the world as they measure collectively seven kilometers in length.
Historic records state that there used to be a hundred souks , but now there are only thirty nine left with about 1500 Stores in them . They are all semi-detached stores and are located in the center |
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