One thing that strikes the tourist as soon as he or she arrives in Yemen is the distinctive architecture. It looks as if it had dropped out of the Thousand and One Nights. Also, there are the amazing carvings on locally-made bracelets, daggers and belts. Any of them would be wonderful souvenirs of Happy Yemen. There are also other things that fascinate visitors to Yemen such as it diversity, its souks and its historic cities.
Sanaa
Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, does not disappoint visitors. It is a city that many singers, poets and versifiers have praised, to say nothing of explorers and travelers. In Sanaa there are fields of fruit and flowers, fed by natural wells and springs flowing with fresh water. It also has narrow ancient streets in its souks which offer an assortment of every imaginable product plus many others which tourists are unfamiliar with. Old Sanaa has more than 20,000 historic sites that go back several thousand years. Many of the oldest buildings are in need of maintenance and repair so that the unique Yemeni heritage will not be lost.
The old city is composed of three major areas. One is on a high place known as Nuqam Mountain; this is the genuine old city which was surrounded by a mud wall, large parts of which remain standing to this very day. The old wall had more than 100 guard towers and 8 gates; the most famous gate was the southern one known as ‘Bab Al-Yemen’ — the Yemeni Gate. At one time, all the gates were shut at sunset and not opened until dawn. This meant that during those hours, no one could leave or enter the city.
In the old city there are many districts that include mosques, houses, open fields and public gardens. There are wide and narrow streets and alleys; each one is an important artery of life for the city and because of the way they are laid out, they conduct breezes and provide shade as well. Perhaps what is most distinctive about Sanaa are the old buildings which may contain as many as seven floors. At the ground level, the building is usually of stone with the upper floors being of burnt mud.
Among the famous sites is ‘Sahat Al-Maydan’ which has played an important role in the history of Yemen. Near it, there a several military buildings, the Al-Bakiriya Mosque and the ‘salt souk’ which is a traditional Arab market. There are other souks as well — two of the most famous are the Al-Mikhlas Souk for gold and silver and the souk specializing in the famous Yemeni ‘aqeeq’ — carnelian. One of the most important buildings in the city is the grand mosque that is a unique Islamic building, distinguished by its design, architecture and the carvings on its wooden roof. It is also known for its library, full of rare and wonderful books.
Taiz
Some 250 kilometers south of Sanaa, Yemen’s second city, Taiz, is famous for its natural scenery and the mountains which surround it. Also an ancient city, Taiz includes evidence of high civilization and refinement; its mosques with their domes and minarets all bear witness to the city’s culture and greatness.
In bygone days, Taiz was divided into three sections: the first was where the sultan, his court and servants lived. It was called “thaabat.” The second was where princes and important officials had their residences and was called “adeena.” The third section, where the general public, lived and worked was known as “al-mahaleb.”
On both Thursday and Sunday, the city hosts an old-fashioned souk in Al-Shanini district; th city buys most of its food there, produced by local farmers in neighboring villages. The souq includes a variety of clothes brought to the shoppers by vendors from all over the country. The area of Taiz which is known for hand-made goods is “Bab Musa” — the Door of Moses. Handmade traditional items in the city’s souks are great favorites with tourists. If you are fortunate enough to visit Taiz, do not leave without going to some of the parks which surround the city — Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Park, Al-Wihdah, Ouseifera and others that are full of the scent and fragrance of flowers.
While you are in Yemen, be sure to visit Baraqesh and Marib, the site of the ancient dam. In Baraqesh you will see the ruins of an old city with a history going back 800 years before the Christian era. Marib is equally interesting with the remains of temples to the sun and moon as well as the ruins of an ancient temple known as ‘Haram Bilqis.’ Bilqis was the legendary queen of Sheba who visited Suleiman in ancient Jerusalem. Legend says she built the temple to please the ancient gods before she set out on her journey to Jerusalem. Nearby is the Al-Baraan Temple which is smaller than the others but which is architecturally similar to Haram Bilqis. Do not fail to visit the famous Marib dam, an ancient wonder which irrigated the area and made the desert green.
Those who love the desert must go to the Rub Al-Khali (the empty quaretr) where you can see Ramlat Al- Basateen which will bring you close to Shabwah, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of the Hadhramaut. Shabwa itself is a historic city and has long enjoyed importance because of the salt taken from the nearby salt flats. The Wadi Hadhramaut extends from the Empty Quarter down to the Arabian Sea and forms the eastern borders of Yemen. Do not fail to visit the ancient city of Shibam, known as the Manhattan of Arabia because of its tall buildings like skyscrapers which rise up in the middle of the desert. Green fields, pastures and palm trees surround the city and it has two mosques and several palaces which are all more than 1,000 years old.