Free Guide of Old Snan
Travel tips for your trip to Yemen Hotel Maps Famous Places in Yemen helps you to make your trip to Yemen in the holiday a Splendid One
Legend tells that Sana'a was founded by Shem, the son of Noah. In reality, the city was probably established sometime during the first century A.D., making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Sana'a, which means "fortified place" or "the protected," originated as a citadel on the important trade route between Aden and Mecca. For centuries, it has been the main economic, political, and religious center in the highlands region of Yemen.
Sana'a has always been an important city in terms of religion. There are over 50 mosques in the city, including the Great Mosque, which was ordered by the Prophet Mohammed in 630 A.D., and completed during his lifetime. The Yemeni government is currently constructing one of the largest and most impressive mosques in the Muslim world. (It can be seen in the distance by enlarging the picture).
Sana'a spreads across the Sana'a Basin, between Mount Nuqum to the east (visible in the picture) and the Ayban Mountains to the west. It sits at an elevation of 7,200 feet (2,200 meters). During my stay, it was difficult to breathe while doing such simple activities as climbing stairs, on account of the high elevation.
Although Sana'a has a modern section, it is most noted for its Old Town, with its distinctive mud-brick architecture, ancient mosques, and markets.
Nowadays, Sana'a is the capital of Yemen, as well as the Sana'a governorate. It is the third-largest city in the country, after Tai'z and Hodeidah, with about 1,600,000 inhabitants in its metropolitan area.
