Al-Manara Square provides a clear point of reference in Nablus: it lies in the heart of the Old City and forms its central focal point. The Al-Manara Clock Tower stands in the square on Al-Naser Street. It is considered an architectural landmark and reflects the late Ottoman period. The tower was built in 1900 and restored in 2013. Here, the Old City’s central location and a precisely dated structure come together.
The historic city of Nablus stands on the foundations of the Roman city of Flavia Neapolis, founded in 72 AD under Emperor Vespasian. This Roman foundation dates to long before the clock tower’s late Ottoman construction; the two facts mark different eras in the city’s history.
Mosques and a Residence: Building History in the Old City
The Great Mosque of Nablus covers 1,460 square meters and is the largest mosque in the city. A Roman basilica initially stood on the site, and was converted into a Byzantine church in the 5th to 6th century. In 1167, the Crusaders rebuilt it as a church; after Saladin’s victory, it was converted into a mosque in 1187. The years 1167 and 1187 mark different steps: reconstruction as a church was followed by its conversion into a mosque.
The present-day An-Nasr Mosque was built on the remains of an older mosque of the same name. The older mosque was demolished after the 1927 earthquake; it had itself been built on the remains of a Crusader church dating from 1187. The two mosques tell different sequences: at the Great Mosque, the site’s use changed several times; at An-Nasr, the succession runs from a Crusader church through the older mosque to the present-day mosque.
Touqan Palace in the Old City is a significant historic residence. It was built by prominent families such as Al-Touqan, Abd al-Hadi and al-Nimr, who held high political and economic standing during the Ottoman period. Unlike the religious building histories of the mosques, the focus here is on a residence and the role of its builders.
Market Architecture and Local Traditions
Khan Al-Tujjar is a covered market with around 50 shops, most of which sell clothing; trading takes place year-round. A street approximately 200 meters long runs between two rows of shops facing each other. Intersecting stone vaults cover the entire length of the street; each vault has an opening for sunlight and ventilation. The khan thus brings together commercial use and the specific design of a covered market street.
Nablus soapmaking has been practiced for more than a millennium. In December 2024, it was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Its long tradition and the dated inscription place the craft in two distinct time periods: the inscription took place in 2024, while the tradition goes back more than a thousand years.
Discover more destinations: Ramallah, Qalqilya, Gaza, Samu'a, Hebron, Uja e-Tahta, Bethlehem, Netiv Hagdud.
For the main travel overview: Palestine.
