Sana'a

Sana'a

Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, situated in a mountain valley at an elevation of 2200 meters, has been populated for over 2500 years. For centuries, Sana'a has been the main economic, political and religious center of the Yemen Highlands. During the 7th and 8th centuries, the city became a key center for the spread of Islam. This heritage of religion and politics can be found in 103 mosques, 14 hammams and more than 6,000 houses, all built well before 11th century. The old town of Sana'a is characterized by an exceptional concentration of towers built of rammed earth and burnt brick, rising several floors above the stone ground floors, and prominently decorated with geometric patterns of burnt bricks and white gypsum. The buildings' ochre-yellow color blends in with the bistre-colored soil of the mountains in the nearby countryside. Inside the city, minarets punctuate the skyline, and wide green gardens are scattered among the clusters of houses, mosques, baths and caravanserais. The city gained official status in the 2nd century BC, when it served as an outpost of the Yemenite kingdoms. It became the center of the inland trade route by the first century AD. The cathedral and martyrium, built during the Abyssinian domination, testify to Christian influence, which culminated in the reign of Justinian. The remnants of the pre-Islamic period were mostly destroyed by the radical changes that took place in the city from the 7th century onwards, when Sana'a became one of the main centers for the propagation of the Islamic faith, as evidenced by the archaeological relics in the Great Mosque.