The areas of Sana'a can be seen on the map: the capital of Yemen is divided into 3 parts, bearing the following names - the Old City, Bir el-Azab and Kaa al-Yahud (despite the fact that the Jews left this area long ago, it is still called the Jewish valley).
Description and attractions of the main areas of Sana'a
- Old city: a tour of this part of Sana'a involves visiting the gates of Bab al-Yemen, local houses (the first floors are given for shops, various institutions and workshops, living quarters begin from the 3rd floor, and the upper floors are reserved for the rest of men, where they gather in the evenings for smoking a hookah; many houses have gardens - where residents grow vegetables and fruits in order to later sell the harvest in the market), the University of Sana'a (the oldest eastern educational institution in which a museum is open: it displays an exhibition of mummies, which can be captured in a photo, but it is worth considering that the museum is closed on Fridays), the Al-Jami-al-Kabir mosques (a Muslim shrine, built, as they say, during the life of the Prophet Muhammad; in addition, it is a repository of ancient books and manuscripts in Arabic; and near the walls of the mosque you can meet the grinders of carnelian, onyx and other semi-precious stones) and Al-Bakiliya (a mixture of national and Turkish styles can be traced in the architecture lei), the ruins of the Gumdun palace (earlier it had a square shape and consisted of 20 floors, and white, red, black and green stones were used in the construction of its walls), a visit to the Es-suk market (here it will be possible to acquire incense, fabrics woven with silver and gold threads, jewelry, daggers of various shapes, silver and bronze hookahs, embroidered handbags, wallets and other handicrafts created by women).
- Bir el-Azab area: you can walk along the Liberation Square; and this area is also home to luxurious villas immersed in orchards, the Dar al-Shkur palace (here the National Historical Museum is open for visiting, where you can see about 75,000 archaeological and exhibits in the form of Islamic scriptures, handicrafts, etc.), The military (famous for its collection of weapons) and the Museum of Applied Arts (it stores things in the form of objects of creativity and national clothes that will tell about local life).
Where to stay for tourists
Travelers who decide to come to Sana'a can stay in the Old Town to be close to the main attractions, as well as bakeries, offices, shops, cafes, and various workshops. Despite the fact that it is possible to rent apartments with modern plumbing and satellite TV, it is safer to stay in hotels, the most comfortable of which is the Moevenpick Hotel. Accommodation facilities in the vicinity of Hadda Street can be a good place to stay (there are also catering establishments where you can treat yourself to delicious fish baked with spices in tanur).
