Jerada

Jerada (also spelled Jaradah) is one of the Byzantine "Dead Cities" near Aleppo in northern Syria. It is close to the Aleppo-Hama highway, which it overlooks from a position up on low rocky hills.

The ruins of Jerada include extensive remains of upper-class houses, a 6-story watchtower and a 5th-century Byzantine cathedral. Column capitals and lintels feature simple geometric designs reminiscent of Visigothic art done in Spain around the same time (such as in Cordoba).

Unlike most of these ghost towns, Jerada is partially occupied, with some of the big old houses serving as barns for nearby modern villagers.