Old City of Sanaa UNESCO Heritage Walk
Explore the extraordinary UNESCO-listed Old City of Sanaa, one of the oldest inhabited cities on earth, wandering among its iconic multi-storey tower houses decorated with intricate alabaster friezes.
- 1
Bab al-Yemen Gate
Enter the Old City through Bab al-Yemen, the ancient main gate of historic Sanaa, a massive stone archway that has welcomed traders and travelers into this ancient mountain city for over 2,500 years.
- 2
Tower House District
Walk among the iconic tower houses, unique multi-storey structures built from rammed earth and burnt brick, their upper floors decorated with elaborate white gypsum friezes and stained alabaster windows.
- 3
Al-Jami al-Kabir Mosque
Admire the Great Mosque of Sanaa, one of the oldest mosques in the Islamic world, founded in the 7th century during the lifetime of the Prophet, its ancient minaret rising above the old city rooftops.
- 4
Suq al-Milh
Explore Suq al-Milh, the ancient salt market that has expanded over centuries into a comprehensive bazaar selling silver jewelry, jambiya daggers, spices, qat leaves, and traditional Yemeni crafts.
- 5
Alabaster Window Houses
Seek out the most spectacular tower houses featuring qamaria, the translucent alabaster or colored glass semicircular windows that filter light into interiors in shifting hues of amber and emerald.
- 6
Old City Panorama
Climb to a rooftop terrace for a panoramic view over the extraordinary Old City skyline, a forest of honey-colored tower houses rising above garden plots surrounded by ancient city walls.