Aleppo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The enormous treasures of urban history, the unique urban fabric, the large traditional souks, the authentic  oriental life as well as the large number of remarkable historical buildings and monuments render the Old City of Aleppo (OCA) one of the most beautiful and attractive oriental cities. Today more than 100,000 Aleppians live here representing 5% of the two million inhabitants of Aleppo City.

During the 20th century the Old City has experienced dramatic changes in its social structure as a result of out-migration of the well-to-do combined with an overall economic decline. As a consequence buildings and infrastructure have deteriorated. Since 1994 the City of Aleppo and the German Technical Cooperation GTZ have been joining efforts, together with other national and international institutions, to preserve and to develop the Old City. The process is highly complex, indeed and must be regarded as a long term task.