Syria has always been a bridge between East and West, between Europe and the Islamic world. 'A cradle of civilisations from time immemorial', in the words of editor Stefano Bianca, Syria 'is a nodal point where various threads of Islamic history come together'. The citadels in this book are testimony to the harsh political conflicts but rich cultural exchanges that occurred in the Middle Ages between Europe and the Islamic world, then at its cultural height. Another publication from the esteemed Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), the book reflects the admirable work done in the field by one of its branches, the Historic Cities Programme, which has restored and brought back to life these splendid building complexes. Indeed, a unique aspect of this volume lies in the combination of the insights into on-site conservation processes and resulting enhancement policies for the entire areas concerned, coupled with detailed historical descriptions that fully contextualise the sites. Likewise, the magnificen
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