Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SANAʻA
01 / POP 1.7 MILLION
Sanaʻa isn't where it was supposed to be. Shem, the son of Noah and founder of Sanaʻa,
had originally chosen the site of his new city a little further west, but just as he set out his
guide ropes and prepared for some major DIY a bird dropped out of the heavens, picked up
the guide rope and moved it further east. This, Shem knew, was a sign, and so it was there,
where the bird had dropped the guide rope, that Sanaʻa was born. Today most visitors to
Yemen arrive, like that interfering bird, by air. Sanaʻa, the world's oldest city, will be their
first taste of this most mystical of Arabian countries. It's a good arrival, for this city is one
of the world's great urban centres, and its many layers, colours and patterns make it the
most romantic, living, breathing Islamic city you could ever hope to find.
History
Though the legend surrounding the founding of Sanaʻa may be disputed by a few boring
old scientists and archaeologists, what no one will doubt is that it's a very old city.
Inhabited during Sabaean times, it later became the capital of the great Himyarite dyn-
asty in the early 6th century AD. It also served as a power base for two foreign powers: the
Abyssinians and the Persians. In the 7th century AD Islam arrived, altering forever the face
of the city, as early mosques and minarets rose up to replace the old churches. The city was
later expanded under the Ottomans.
After the civil war in the 1960s, Sanaʻa experienced a period of rapid growth, doubling
in size every four years. Historically, politically and economically, it was the obvious
choice for the capital of the reunited Yemen in 1990. Today Sanaʻa is the fastest-growing
capital city in the world and this is creating a predictable range of social problems.
