Nicknamed the "Manhattan of the desert", Shibam is one of the oldest and best examples of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction.
Sana'a has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years. It became a major center for the propagation of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries. This heritage can be seen in the 103 mosques, 14 hammams and over 6,000 houses, all built before the 11th century.
Zabid was the capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th century. It played an important role in the Arab and Muslim world for many centuries because of its Islamic university. Unfortunately, the city is currently in decline and in a very poor state of conservation.
Lynn Garry Salmon <>{ Last Updated: July 8, 2008