Editing Aleppo (section)

==Municipality==
[[File:Aleppo city hall laz.jpg|thumb|Aleppo City Hall]]
The city of Aleppo is the capital of [[Aleppo Governorate]] and the centre of [[Mount Simeon District]]. Aleppo City Council is the governing body of the city. The first municipality council was formed in 1868.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esyria.sy/ealeppo/index.php?p=stories&category=ruins&filename=201111062205011 |title=eAleppo:Khans in Aleppo |publisher=Esyria.sy |access-date=11 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629185847/http://www.esyria.sy/ealeppo/index.php?p=stories&category=ruins&filename=201111062205011 |archive-date=29 June 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the governor being appointed directly by the president of the republic, has a supreme authority over the city and the entire governorate. But the city is managed directly by the mayor.

===Subdivisions===
{{See also|Ancient City of Aleppo}}
[[File:السلام.jpg|180px|thumb|Suleimaniyeh District, St George's Church and [[Tawhid Mosque]], 2020]]
Districts in Aleppo can be considered in four categories:
*Old quarters inside the walls of the ancient city.
*Old quarters outside the walls of the ancient city.
*Modern neighborhoods, including a newly developed area called The New Aleppo.
*Informal settlements.

===Integrated Urban Development in Aleppo===
[[File:Covered Suq of Aleppo2.JPG|thumb|''Souq al-Dira''', maintaining its traditional role as a tailoring centre]]
The "Integrated Urban Development in Aleppo" (UDP) is a joint programme between the German Development Cooperation (GTZ) and the Municipality of Aleppo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.udp-aleppo.org/ |title=UDP-Aleppo |publisher=UDP-Aleppo |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=11 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315104149/http://www.udp-aleppo.org/ |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The programme promotes capacities for sustainable urban management and development at the national and municipal level.

The Programme has three fields of work:
# Aleppo City Development Strategy (CDS): promoting support structures for the municipality, including capacity building, networking, and developing municipal strength in the national development dialogue.
# Informal Settlements (IS): includes strategy and management development of informal settlements.
# The Project for the Rehabilitation of the Old City of Aleppo (OCA): includes further support for the rehabilitation of the Old City, as well as for a city development strategy oriented to the long term.

The UDP cooperates closely with other interventions in the sector, namely the EU-supported 'Municipal Administration Modernization' programme. It is planned to operate from 2007 to 2016.

===Preservation of the ancient city===
[[File:Khan al-Wazir with Sahibiyah mosque.jpg|thumb|left|Khan al-Wazir after rehabilitation in 2009]]
As an ancient trading centre, Aleppo has impressive ''[[souq]]s'', ''khans'', ''hammams'', ''madrasas'', mosques and churches, all in need of more care and preservation work. After [[World War II]] the city was significantly redesigned; in 1954 French architect [[André Gutton]] had a number of wide new roads cut through the city to allow easier passage for modern traffic. Between 1954 and 1983 many buildings in the old city were demolished to allow for the construction of modern apartment blocks, particularly in the northwestern areas (Bab al-Faraj and [[Bab al-Jinan]]). As awareness for the need to preserve this unique cultural heritage increased, Gutton's master plan was finally abandoned in 1979 to be replaced with a new plan presented by the Swiss expert and [[urban designer]] [[Stefano Bianca]], which adopted the idea of "preserving the traditional architectural style of Ancient Aleppo" paving the way for [[UNESCO]] to declare the [[Old City of Aleppo]] as a World Heritage Site in 1986.<ref name="Aleppo plan">{{cite web |title=eAleppo:Aleppo city major plans throughout the history |url=http://www.esyria.sy/ealeppo/index.php?p=stories&category=misc&filename=201009251220032 |language=ar |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218150720/http://www.esyria.sy/ealeppo/index.php?p=stories&category=misc&filename=201009251220032 |archive-date=18 December 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Khandaq6 Alp.jpg|thumb|The historic street of al-Khandaq, restored just before the civil war]]
Several international institutions have joined efforts with local authorities and the Aleppo Archaeological Society, to rehabilitate the old city by accommodating contemporary life while preserving the old one. The governorate and the municipality are implementing serious programmes directed towards the enhancement of the ancient city and Jdeydeh quarter.

The German Technical Cooperation ([[GTZ]]) and [[Aga Khan Foundation]] (within the frames of [[Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme]]) has made a great contribution in the preservation process of the old city.