Rafiqa City Walls and Baghdad Gate

In 772 CE, Caliph al-Mansur founded the city of al-Rāfiqah adjacent to ancient Raqqa and constructed an oval-shaped wall stretching 5,300 meters in length.

Baghdad Gate has remained in relatively good condition, with its brick façade and winding decorations reminiscent of the Samarra style. A 2017 bombing damaged part of the northern façade, but an international restoration project reinstated the central arch using lime mortar and discreet carbon fiber panels.

The gate stands as a symbol of the urban development that flourished alongside the Silk Road’s River trade.