Photos: Aleppo--Once Alive Now a Ghost Town.wmv

Aleppo: From living museum to ghost

For months, fighting has wound back and forth around Aleppo - Syria's largest city and economic center.

The historic city from 5000 BC, was named the capital of Islamic culture in 2006, but today there are tanks that characterizes the cityscape.

The old part of town was a few months ago a vibrant place where people gathered at the spice market, bought old books or freshly pressed olive oil.

The Old Town was built by Saladin after his victory over the Crusaders in the 1100s.

The city's majestic edifice has secured a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list because of architectural art

Souk al-Madina is the world's longest covered market. Up to 1,000 stores will have been destroyed in the historic market in Old town after fighting between rebels and government forces in September.

Snipers

Today the old Aleppo a city in ruins and partly a war zone.

The mosque from the 1200s have been damaged by grenades, and on top of the mighty fortress is now the snipers to.

- Old City of Aleppo were of this world scene. It makes us really upset, mosques are being destroyed, says Haj Amer, who owns a printing business in the city center.

Despite the fighting in and around the city, he has no plans to leave.

- This site is my roots, my life since 1975. I will always stay here, he says.

Rebels control

The civil war in Syria has cost an estimated 44,000 lives. Around half a million have been displaced.

The war reached Aleppo in full force six months ago, and controlled for most of the rebels.

Parts of the city remains the scene of fierce fighting between rebels and government forces.

A soldier from the Free Syrian Army in the city of Aleppo. The old part is turned into a ruin and the theater of war.

Disrupt the taxes on purpose

On a walk through the old town residents pointing at the damage the valuable buildings are applied.

By al-Uthmaniya Mosque is blown a hole through the tower from 1728, and decorative glass that covered the high arches are gone, writes NTB.

Citizens more than suggest that President Bashar al-Assad's forces deliberately goes on to destroy the city's treasures.

- There were no armed men in the mosque when it was hit.

We had left afternoon prayers when a missile struck, says 70 year-old Abu Mohammed, who lives close to the mosque.

Hope

Despite the war in Syria rages unabated, has often chosen to return to the old city.

- We had no other place to do to us. But the streets are not going to recognize, says 12-year-old Riham, who helps his grandmother down one of the steep streets on the way to the doctor.

Nevertheless, it lit a small glimmer of hope in the old city. In Bazaar are some of the stalls that are not destroyed by the war opened again, and you can buy soda and candy. Outside the men drinking tea.