| Page Views: 179 Last Visit to Sanaa: November, 2007 | Sana'a by janiebaxter - last update: Mar 12, 2008 |
Sana’a is one of the oldest towns on the Arabian peninsular. It was first inhabited in Sabaean times and has been an important city since then as it is built between two ancient trade routes – Marib and the Red Sea and the Highland valleys. Like many of the highland towns Sana’a is set on a mountain plateau and is 2300m above sea level.
In the 6th century Sana’a became the capital of the Himyarite dynasty. It has traditionally had Hijra status which means that no feud can take place within the old city walls.
The main square is full of activity in the late afternoons, with people gathering to meet and talk |
|  | Sana'a Old City The old walled city is the main point of interest, although the modern city is quite large and is very busy with traffic at most times of the day.
Sana’a Old City is famous for its 6000 Tower houses between 250 and 500 years old, most having 7 to 9 floors.
They were built for agriculture and defence so look out onto the streets, rather than onto courtyards. The foundations are made from rock with the upper levels made from a mixture of limestone and clay. The windows are highly decorated with a limestone surround and an arched stained glass toplight. The ventilation holes were historically also used to shoot at attackers.
The old city was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984. |
A Set System of Living The tower houses have a set system of how they are laid out, dating back centuries. The animals are kept on the ground floor, which is also used for storage. The living areas form the middle floors, with a floor reserved for women, and the top floor is like a roof garden with views over the city.
We saw roof gardens on the top floor with sheep and goats in - must have been interesting getting them up those stairs! | | |
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| Pros: | "Great atmosphere and wonderful architecture in the old city" | | Cons: | "Heavy Traffic in the modern city" | | In A Nutshell: | "Certainly unique and mesmerising" |
janiebaxter's Sanaa Travel Tips
 Comments for janiebaxter about Sanaa | | | | |
lynnehamman Fri Oct 9, 2009 14:00 UTC
The architectute of Sanaa is so unique. Surely the oldest 'highrise' buildings. And so decorative. I read a book by Kevin Rushby called 'Eating the Flowers of Paradise' about his qat chewing adventure here, fascinating.Great page. | Sambawalk Tue Apr 8, 2008 14:09 UTC
Gd tips for Sana city. I will need it! Cheers. |
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