The city of Sana’a is
located in the heart of Yemen plateau at the western foot of Noqum mountain.
This mountain is considered
to be the fortification of Sana’a it is about (600) meters higher than the city,
which is 2200m above the sea level .
Naming :-
The city is known by several
names including : The city of Sam . It is said that the city was built by Sam
the son of Noah, following the flood . it is also called “Azal” (a name
mentioned in the Old Testament) . The most common name is Sana’a the name
“protected”.
The name of Sana’a is
mentioned in a number of ancient Yemen inscriptions, the most ancient one dates
back to the first century . AD. It’s famous historical palace “Ghumdan” was also
mentioned .
Dhu Nuas the last king of
the Himyarites, turned it into a capital for his kingdom at the early sixth
century .AD. It was also the capital for Abyssinians who invaded Yemen in 525
.AD. Abraha the Abyssinian built in Sana’a the famous church “Al-Qalis” in order
to replace the holy Kaaba at Mecca,to which he launched his well known campaign
via the road known as “The road of the Elephant “.Throughout ages Sana’a was
always an important city or the metropolis for the Yemen state .It was one of
the pre-Islamic markets such as Ukadh, Aden Shihr, and Dumat Al-Gandal .
The old city
There is
an opinion which says , that “Yemeni architecture is a mirror of its
civilization “. If this is true, the old city of Sana’a could be the best
example . Although the houses of the city are not very old (large numbers of
them date back to 400 years ago ) ,however the new ones were rebuilt according
to the same design adopted earlier .The current city is originally built on the
ruins of the older city . The number of its houses are about 14000.
Nowadays
any person can walk from the center of the city, (Al-Baqar market ) for a
distance of 500m towards any direction, without seeing any modern building or
western designed building .
In the
old city, there exist about 50 mosques, most of them are with minarets, and a
lot of them are next to gardens . The most important of which is the “Grand
Mosque” whose building dates back to the days of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon
him) .It is considered one of the most ancient mosques in Islam .The mosque’s
original building dates back to the year 270.A.H.(9th century .AD.)
At least some of the material used in building, were taken from the ruins of
Ghumden Palace , such as well-cut stones, pillars, etc .
Wadi
Dhahr .
It is a
bout 14km north west of Sana’a . It is one of the fertile beautiful valleys
surrounding Sana’a . It is nearly 6km long . There, grow different kinds of
fruit trees .
The
historian Al-Hamadani (10th century AD) mentioned that there were
more than 18 kinds of grapes in this Wadi . On the top of a high rock at the
middle of the wadi lies Der al-Hajar . It is a big beautiful palace consisting
of 5 stores containing 17rooms.
It is
believed to be built on an ancient historical site . the oldest building dates
back to the end of 18th century (around 1786AD),built by Imam
Al-Mansour Ali Bin Al-Mahdi abbas. Imam Yahya Hamid Al-Deen added (during the
thirties of the 20th century) a number of stores , Imam Yahya used to
spend autumn there .The palace is today a touristic at traction Through a
passage from inside the building, there is an access to an ancient rock
cemetery, not far away from the palace .
Thula :
Tis 54km
northwest Sana’a It became famous as an Islamic town, built at the eastern foot
of its fortified fortress . It is characterized by its high houses, unique
architecture, and its walls, are decorated with moldings of beautiful
architectural designs . The windows are interjected with alabaster slabs, and
colored glass, whereas the streets are paved with stones . There are a number of
mosques and tombs.
The town has two gates and
surrounded by tight stone wall . The fortress overlooking the town is called
“the fortress of Al-Mutahar Bin Sharaf Al-Deen” it is one of the most fortified
fortresses which the Ottomans failed to control during the first Ottomans rule
of Yemen from 1538 up to 1635.A.D.
Manakha
It lies
on Haraz heights about 90 km west Sana’a at a height of 2200m above the sea
level, between two tops look like the horse saddle .
It was a
center for the collection of coffee crop in its hay-day during the 18th
and 19th centuries . It is today a big commercial market for the
people of neighboring villages of Haraz heights . To the west, lies Al-Hajara
village which is one of the most beautiful Yemen village with its distinguished
architecture . Some of its houses are 8 stores high .
In
eastern heights of Haraz, exist many beautiful mountainous villages overlooking
hills and mountainous peaks .Most of them are surrounded by fortified rocky
walls like castles in the middle of the most beautiful agricultural terraces .
There
are a number of historical citadels, the most important of which are Masar built
by the founder of Sulaihi Dynasty Ali Bin Mohammad Al-Sulaihi in 448 A.H 9mid 11th
century AD) and Shibam which was the strongest fortification protecting the
supply lines of Ottoman troops during their rule in Yemen .
In east
Haraz, there exist a number of the followers of Ismaeli sect . There is also a
famous tomb called “Al-Hoteib” visited by thousand of visitors from the
followers of the sect coming from other countries especially from India .
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