The historic centre of Qalandiya is located on the western side of the Qalandiya lands and is visible from the road leading to villages northwest of Jerusalem (Ramallah-Biddu). The results of the inventory of Riwaq’s Register of Historic Buildings in 2001 stated that there were 20 historic buildings in the core of the historic centre and its surroundings: 40% of these were in poor structural condition and 20% were uninhabitable and in ruins. Riwaq updated the Registry information after implementing the first phase of preventive conservation of parts of the historic centre. After removing the debris and rubble, some 35 historic buildings were found in the core of the historic centre, the majority of them abandoned.

The architectural style of the buildings and their form of construction indicate that they date from the Ottoman period (the sixteenth century until the beginning of the twentieth century). Some archaeological findings, stone fragments, column segments, mosaic stones and scattered pottery indicate earlier historic periods (Mamluk, Crusader, Byzantine and perhaps Roman). However, more excavations and archaeological studies are needed to verify the historical evolution of the town.

The historic centre is composed of intact historic fabric, most of it peasant houses consisting of two levels: the lower level (qa’a) for domesticated animals and equipment, and the upper level (rawiyeh) for living and food bins (khawabi). Although most of the historic buildings made use of cross vaults as a construction method, a number of buildings used barrel vaults and there were a few flat roofs with iron I-beams. In the historic centre, there are two main elevated attics (a’lali): the ‘Awadallah attic and Ghaith attic (known as Al Illiyyeh Al Shamiyah). Both attics contain double windows (mijwez) and a fireplace (wijaq) where coffee was made. The two fireplaces are decorated with distinctive stone ornaments. The historic olive press (al-badd), where the locals used to press their olives, is centrally located within the historic core. The olive press was mounted with a barrel vault at the time, and still has the old millstones and channels for transporting oil from one area to another.

Oral history indicates the presence of archaeological sites that the locals refer to as Nawamis; according to British references, these are holes for graves, as well as water reservoirs and pools paved with stones and mosaics. The British resources refers to archaeological findings of pottery, metal jewellery, stone mosaics and coins dating back to the Hellenic, early Roman times and the period of Herod's rule of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus Christ in Palestine (Excavations Y. Magen, 1978, 1981. Guerin 1868-1869, Judee, 1: 393, 3: 6; Magen 1984; Feldstein et al. 1993, Site 171). Another archaeological excavation found tombs, pigeons, water basins and mosaics of white stone dating back to the Middle Bronze Age - the second millennium BC (Baramki 1933; Kloner 1986; Dajani 1953).

At the core of the historic centre is an ancient mosque known locally as the Al-Omari Mosque. The mosque is a rectangular hall covered with a barrel vault measuring 5 x 6.5 metres. Archaeological findings and the re-use of some ancient stones indicate that the mosque dates back to earlier periods; the space for the sheikh or imam within the mosque (mi’hrab) on the southern wall of the mosque is decorated with stucco plaster in the form of simple protruding pendentives (muqarnas). At the front façade, to the left side of the entry door, a Roman coffin was installed and reused as a fountain for ablution. The mosque has been deserted since the construction of a new mosque with a minaret to the east of the old one. The ruins of some ancient structures (probably Roman) are still visible to the north of the new mosque. A yet newer mosque, this time with two minarets, was constructed on the eastern side of the town. It has a multi-purpose hall in which the villagers gathered to mark their joys and sorrows.

Although there are few water wells within the borders of the historic centre, oral history sessions indicate the presence of a group of archaeological reservoirs to the northeast of the town. Qalandiya elders refer to water reservoirs and wells by proper names: the Homma, the bones, the lead, the Natsheh, the ‘Hardon and the priest. It is worth mentioning that Qalandiya’s relationship with the surrounding villages included borrowing water when needed from the ‘Afaneh well in Kafr Aqab and the ‘Aziz well in Al Jib.