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Sana'a:
Sana'a is the capital of Yemen; situated
about 2200 m of the sea level, its area is about 1800 Km2; the population
of Sana'a is 2 million.
The Old City of Sana'a :
The Old City of Sana'a is one of most ancient cities in the wourld, it was
founded in the tenth century B C.
The Old City of Sana'a is surrounded by pise walls and it has 7 gates, 6
of them were destroyed within the war of revolution, the old city wall is
extremely well preserved.
It
contains houses which are more than 400 years old, built of dark basalt
stone.
In
the old city of Sana'a there are more than 50 mosques, 28 caravansaries,
45 markets, 15 hamam, 34 sabile, 25 mekchama and 16 gardens.
Souk al-Milh is one of the city's market,
it means Salt Market, but actually a wide variety of goods are on sale,
such as spices, vegetables, corn, qat, pottery, raisins, copper, woodwork
and clothing.
Ghamdan palace:
This palace was founded by Sam, but it was destroyed. Now we can see its
vestiges.
Bit Boss :
An
old village almost uninhabited, it is situated at 7 Km from Sana'a.
There are the vestiges of ancient houses.
Wadi Dhahar:
Wadi dhahar is a fertile valley situated about 14 Km north
of Sana'a,
length 6 Km with small villages and clay walled
farms, which grows grapes, apricots, peaches, pomegranates and nuts.
It is also renowned for Dar al-Hajar palace, which
built on high rock in the 8th century and belonged to the Imam
Yahya during the early part of the twentieth century.
Thula:
This village situated about 54 Km from Sana'a, about 2400
meters of the sea level.
It is a village of pre-Islamic origin, situated along the
ancient spice route, about 9 Km north of Shibam.
There are many remarkable examples of stone architecture,
including tower houses, well-preserved aqueducts and splendidly carved
water cisterns near the northern and southern gates.
Thula is built at the foot of a mountain with a fortress at
the summit called (Hesn Al Gurab) means (the fortress of raven).
Hababa:
A small village situated between Shibam and Thula, this old
village, with its ancient Himyaritic inscriptions, is worth visiting.
Shibam:
An old town is lying at the foot of the mountain below the
stronghold of Kawkaban.
Shibam was once the capital of a small independent highland
state.
The large mosque in Shibam is worth visiting.
Ancient inscriptions can be found on the stones of the city
gate and in other old buildings of the town. In the nearby mountainside,
which rises to a height of 2,850m, there are man-made caves.
Zakati:
A small village situated between Shibam and Thula, in this
old village, there is an old small fortress.
Bukur:
A small village situated at the summit of the mountain, it
contains an ancient tower and ancient houses.
Kawkaban:
Kawkaban is situated about 7 Km from Shibam.
It is an important stronghold during the Turkish occupation
of lower regions of the Yemen, Kawkaban served to protect the town of
Shibam below.
It is built at the summit of a 350 meters cliff and the
town's inhabitants were often evacuated there during times of crisis.
Kawkaban is about an hour's walk from Shibam, by means of a
paved footway, starting from behind the main mosque.
Manakha:
An important
Turkish stronghold situated in Haraz, about 150 Km from Sana'a, it is
distinguished by its beautiful mountainous regions.
Al Hajara:
A typical fortified mountain village with one gate, it is
on of most beautiful villages in Yemen.
It was founded in the second century.
Al Hutaib:
An important and beautiful village situated about 10 Km
from Manakha, goal of the Ismaeli pilgrims.
Terraces on the mountainside grow qat and coffee.
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