Sanaa Ancient Mosques and Islamic Heritage
Discover the remarkable Islamic heritage of Sanaa, a city that counts among its treasures some of the world oldest mosques, ancient libraries, and Sufi shrines of profound religious significance.
- 1
Al-Jami al-Kabir Library
Visit the library attached to the Great Mosque holding one of the world most significant collections of ancient Islamic manuscripts, including Quranic texts and early theological works of extraordinary rarity.
- 2
Al-Bakiliyya Mosque
Admire the Al-Bakiliyya Mosque, a fine example of Ottoman Islamic architecture built during the 16th-century Turkish period, its elegant minaret rising above the old city in a distinctive style.
- 3
Sufi Shrine
Visit a local Sufi shrine in the old city, a whitewashed tomb of a revered Islamic saint draped in green cloth, where followers come to seek blessings in a tradition centuries older than the modern state.
- 4
Old City Walls
Walk a section of the ancient city walls encircling old Sanaa, built from the same earth and stone as the tower houses and punctuated by ancient gates that once controlled all entry to this mountain city.
- 5
Jewish Quarter Remnants
Find the remnants of the old Jewish quarter, where Yemen ancient Jewish community lived for over 2,000 years before emigrating to Israel, leaving behind distinctive architecture and cultural traces.
- 6
Al-Mutawakkil Palace Ruins
See the surviving ruins of the Al-Mutawakkil Palace, once the seat of the Zaidi Imam rulers of Yemen, a reminder of the theocratic monarchy that governed this mountain kingdom until 1962.