Older possibly even than Damascus, Aleppo’s massive Citadel stands on the site of a Hittite acropolis. This UNESCO Heritage Site is one of the most magnificent examples of Islamic Arab military architecture in the Syrian Arab Republic. There are an impressive number of mosques in the city. For the tourist, the souk (market), made up of 16km (10 miles) of meandering low corridors lined with shops and bustling with activity, is probably the greatest attraction. The well preserved hammams, or public baths, are of interest, as are the ancient khans (rest houses). Some fine artifacts and historic reminders of the Syrian Arab Republic’s rich cultural past are housed in the archaeological museum. Aleppo is also the commercial and industrial center of the Syrian Arab Republic.