is the historical and political capital of Yemen.  It is also the largest and oldest. It is located in the centre of the central plateau between the mountains of Nukum and Iban. At 2,200m above sea level, it is one of the highest capital cities  in the world.

While it has been known by other names e.g. Azal  after Azal bin Aber, the name Sana’a itself is long established and appears in pre-Islamic engravings. The origin of the name is not clear.  One theory is that it originally was called Sam City in honour of its founder and builder Sam bin Nouh. Another view is that the name is a derivative from the Arabic word for perfection. It is also called the mother of Yemen. The ancient city San’aa: One of the ancient cities of Yemen which goes back to before the time of Saba’ and indeed is one of the oldest cities in the World. It still retains the mystery and legends of the millenniums when the genius of artists and craftsmen developed its architecture, the garden ‘islands’, or what is called in San’aa the method of building around the (Makashim). In the old and indeed noble city, art became a living creature pervades the streets and is expressed in the vivaciousness of life and subtilties of colors. It penetrates the soul with the “perfume of history and the poetic dreams of Yemen.” Sana’a is the living heart of Yemen, full of elemental force and vitality and regards as a veritable paradise on Earth by its people. Wall engravings of end of the first century recognized the historical supremacy and prestige of Sana’a. Its importance increased until it became the capital of the Hemerian power during the time of King Yousif athar dho nouas (the last Hemerian Kings) in the beginning of the sixth century. Afterwards, it became the capital in turn of the Habasha power and then the Persians . It remained throughout the centuries either the capital or a key city of one of the ruling powers of the time. It was also an important station on the trading road known as As’ad or Ashab al flu which began at Aden and passed through the northern hills. With Islam, San’aa entered a new stage. The grand mosque replaced the church of Ibraha (Alkalis) and domes and minerettes appeared across the city. Schools were founded and gardens were enlarged. The houses of the present day old city are estimated to be more than 500 years old with the foundations of some dating back to more than 1000 years.  Traditionally, when houses were damaged or needed to be renovated, new buildings would be raised on or out of the debris of the old. The architecture was and is distinctive with some buildings rising to eight stories with the interiors lighted through windows with marble and coloured glass decorative fan lights. External walls are engraved with pictures covered with lime and built in a very distinctive and harmonised architectural style.  Sana’a endured over the years many natural catastrophes and wars but it survived and that which was damaged was rebuilt. The City expanded later and particularly during the Ayoubian period (12th century). In the first Ottoman occupation it was further extended and a new district (Bir el azb), was incorporated. The distinctive feature of this new area compared with the older Sana’a is its gardens and fountains. A further expansion took place in the middle of the 16th century, through the addition of the Jewish Quarter.   Originally Sana’a was surrounded by a wall and this can still be seen (some of it original) which goes back to the 1st century. Expansion resulted in the  development f new districts beyond the wall. Originally thee were six gates or doors into the City; now only one remains.

(Babel Yemen). Some of the original walls have been demolished but much still remains with the eastern wall and parts of the northern and southern (next to Babel Yemen) walls being most intact.  Sana’a is considered to be the most beautiful city in Yemen and indeed in the Arab peninsula. Its climate is moderate the whole year round. Its unique architectural style is outstanding. It has been the source of admiration by writers and poets. It constitutes a veritable Islamic museum and can be considered as a an international heritage site in the same way as Alquds and Fas and Venice. UNESCO considered it as part of world’s heritage and launched a campaign for protection and maintenance of the city in 1984. There are many archeological, historical, and tourist sites in the city and its surrounds: 

 Markets:

 The markets was an important element in an Islamic -Arabic city The markets of old Sana’a are good examples. There are dozens of these each specialized in a type of produce such as: the cattle, iron work, carpentry, lanterns, grapes, textiles, qat,  raisins, salt, silk and reminiscent of the stories of one thousand and one nights. 

Mosques            

There are more than 50 historical mosques;  most of them have wonderfully engraved minarets and many are covered by attractive domes. The most fascinating is the sacred “Tthe Great Mosque” which is one of the most marvelous ancient Islamic monuments in the city Sana’a and considered as one of the immortal achievements because of its size, the perfection of its design and construction and the distinctive architectural art and its pillars which are from the Hemerian remains and the ruins of the castle of Ghamdan.  These pillars are fashioned mostly from just from a single stone from the basis to the curves of the knots.   The visitor can be fascinated  by different kinds of perfectly designed engravings and a wonderful ceiling which fascinates the viewer. This mosque is considered one of the oldest mosques in Yemen, and in fact was built by messengers (Waber bin yehnis alansarim Aban bin sa’id , and the emigrant bin umaia , and Farwa bin meseek by order of the prophet Mohammed himself. Some changes were made but essentially the ain building dates back to the days of the Yeferian period power at the end of the 9th century . The lady Arwa bint Ahmed Alsuleihi and others contributed in the expansion of the mosque. It was one of the most important scientific and intellectual schools during the Islamic History until present, and it has a library (Algharbia) whcich is one of the most famous libraries ofmanuscripts in Yemen. There are many other mosques in the city which are adorned with not less beautiful minarets, domes and artistic decoration such as the dome of Al-Mahdi Abass (18th century) and Al-B akria dome which goes back to the first Ottoman era.  The latter was restored at the end of the 19th century by order of the Ottoman sultan Abd al Hamid as were also the Talha, Almutawakil  and other domes. 

Ghamdan’s Palace:

 The elevated mound which extends from the east of the Great Mosque to the north of Babel Yemen are what is left of the ruins of Ghamdan’s Palace.  Historical records describe it as being rectangular in shape, its corners of colored marble, twenty stories high with floor of a height of 10 cubits. The ceiling of the King’s quarters on the top floor was made of transparent marble “through which could be seen all birds”. The palace was adorned with four hollow lion statues made of copper which when the wind blew through them, roared like real animals. In front of the Palace stood a water clock and the courtyard contained a beautiful garden and canals. At the side of the courtyard grew a huge palm tree known as Aldalfa. The castle was destroyed in the days of Otman bin Affan. 

Khans: 

In ancient Sana’a, there were several khans which were a type of warehouse of stock rooms to store goods prior to sale at markets. They were designed in a certain architectural style with special types knots and interior balconies being distinquishing special features. Among the large and well know khans in Sana’a were those of Mohammed bin Alhassen, Mareed and Alshaijuh There are examples of these to be seen still; one is Alnuhas located at the entrance of the salt market from the road from Babel Yemen (it is currently a training and display centre for artisans and their wares; a second (Almansour) which serves as an exhibition centre for plastic arts is close by.  

Hamam (Steam Baths) 

Hamam had an important social function in an Islamic city and were a symbol of civilization in its prosperous era. However Yemenites used steam baths even before the advent of Islam where the tradition was that they were built beside the temples. With Islam they custom continued with the Hamams being built for sanitary causes (Altahara) beside Mosques. There are more than fifteen such baths in old Sana’a.     There is a resemblance between the style of baths of Yemen and that of North Africa and Turkey and Syria.  Parks  The city of has several parks enjoyed by its citizens and visitors alike.  

AlRawdha 

Located nine kilometres north of Sana’a city, it is known for its outstanding vineyards.  Many of the ‘great and good’ of San’aa live there especially during the summer season.  It has about twenty monumental mosques with the Great Mosque regarded as being the center, distinguished (from the rest) by the fine artistic engravings on its minorette. It is dated from the 17th century and has been well recorded in history and literature as a place where writers and poets admired fresh air and its attractive vineyards.   

Wadi Dhar (Valley of Dhahr)

Wadi Dhar (a valley six kilometres long) is 14 km north west of Sana’a and a popular tourism centre. It is considered as one of the finest wadis in the country and is renouned for the qualty of its grapes and fruit. In the valley centre stands the castle Dar Alhajr (Rock Palace) , perched on a high rock and built in the 18th century.  Its water comes from a monumental well that penetrates the living rock.  There is also an ancient rock cemetery and some other archaelogical sites throughout the valley as well as in the village of Alkabel which stands adjacent to the valley. The latter is known for its historical mosque.  Several villages are located around the city of Sana’a at the foot of the mountain chains which surround them such as Aser, Utan, Hada, Sati’, Beit Zabatan, Beit Bous, Artil, and Hamel.  All resemble each other in terms of location, nature, agriculture and woods.  . Hada is located five kilometres south-west of the capital and is one of its most famous parks.  It is located on a broad hill surrounded by terraces of almond, peach and walnuts orchards. Below are  located grain farms.     Folklore and Customs:  Sana’a governorate is distinguished with different colours of arts and folklore, and music conformed with such dance, as Al Bara’ dance, Flute dance associated with drum and plate, Alnouba dance used in marriage ceremony, Al Nouba flute (shobaiba) in addition to types of music used for without dance as the flute used by the shepherd and the tambour used in religious songs. Folklore dress differs between men and women according to the social classes and the occasions, age, climate, Sana’ a governorate is distinguished with many types of food in breakfast and dinner and lunches in the ordinary days and the occasions.  

Public markets: 

 Sana’a governorate is distinguished with different colours of arts and folklore, and music conformed with such dance, as Al Bara’ dance, Flute dance associated with drum and plate, Alnouba dance used in marriage ceremony, Al Nouba flute (shobaiba) in addition to types of music used for without dance as the flute used by the shepherd and the tambour used in religious songs.  

Haraz: 

 Haraz is a large district with Manaka (situated on the main Sana'a Hudaydah road) as its regional capital. It is a historic area formerly known as Hawazan  Land road between Sana’a and Uudaida, it is a city with middle commercial center.  Haraz is a known district, this district was known as (Hawazin land) according to the Yemeni carves, it is today within two districts in Sana’a governorate and Manakha district and Sa’afan district, There is a wealth of historic and archaelogical sites and cities in Haraz:Many beautiful villages on right and lift of the road leading to Hutaib in east Hiraz, the place of the grave of the Ismaeli scholar. Hatim bin Ibrahim Al- Hamdani (16th century) it is an important shrine for the followers of the Ismaeli group who visit it every year from many countries as India, Serilanka and Singapore. In addition to other Ismaeli shrines in different areas of Yemen.   

Manakhah city:

 It is in a mountainous area surrounded by digrading shopes and located between Beeh castle from the north and Shibam Hiraz castle from the south, the houses on both sides of the mountain of a height of 2200m above sea level form a shape like a saddle Manakhah city is considered a daily market for the inhabitants of the surrounding mountainous villages, it was in the past an important center for collecting the coffee bears crop before Launching the camels caravans which carry it to Hudaida and Mokhal ports. Monakhah city is considered of the ideal areas for starting walking sport to different areas including many mountainous villages located on the mountain edges. Al- Hijrah village: It is one of Hiraz villages, few kilometers west Manakha city, it is a city with high store buildings, some reach 8 floors, some are built before hundreds of years, overlooking deep valleys and beautiful grading, not far from Masar historic castle which guards the western side, it is the castle from which Ali Mohd Suleihi, the founder of Suleihia state (1047 - 1138 AD), the ottoman canons were guarding supply lines of its forces between Sana’a and the sea.