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Return to Aleppo: A squandered legacy

Historic Aleppo was the center of many empires over the centuries but now resembles a city plundered once again by Mongols.
TOPSHOT - A general view shows Syrian pro-government forces walking in the ancient Umayyad mosque in the old city of Aleppo on December 13, 2016, after they captured the area.
After weeks of heavy fighting, regime forces were poised to take full control of Aleppo, dealing the biggest blow to Syria's rebellion in more than five years of civil war.

 / AFP / George OURFALIAN        (Photo credit should read GEORGE OURFALIAN/AFP/Getty Images)

This is the second in a series of stories from Al-Monitor correspondent Fehim Tastekin, who is traveling in Syria.

ALEPPO, Syria — When I finally arrived in Aleppo from Damascus, accompanied by Damascus-based Turkish journalist Hediye Levent, I discovered the Meridien Hotel we'd wanted to stay at was totally booked because of a government meeting. The hotel general manager found us places at Hotel Riga, once one of the best in the city. We had thought it was not operating because of the war.

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