This aged city of ancient frontispieces and carved mosque monoliths rises from the desert sands of west central Yemen protruding out of the very rugged landscape in which it sits. Its heart, a busy and enchanting UNESCO-attested old town is a hubbub of decorated façades and adobe architecture that plays host to the aromatic spice stalls and trinket shops of the famous Souk al-Milh. On the horizon, the great Jabal an-Nabi Shu'aib peak looms mysteriously—as old and weathered as the cityscape below.
As an introduction to the metropolises of the Arabian Peninsula, no traveller could ask for more than San'a. To pass beneath the iconic Bab al-Yemen Gate and into the old town, is to enter a world of Aladdin-esque homes, domed-mosques, tobacco-chewing locals and spicy bazaars, while a daytrip to the nearby Wadi Dhahr Palace will reveal one of the most fascinating royal landmarks the region has to offer.
And on the peripheries of the city’s historical core rises modern San'a, a place of dusty metropolitan roadways and lively local coffee stalls. Here, why not ask your San'a tourist guide about the National Museum and the country’s Military Exhibitions, or for tips on the best place to sample local delicacies like the fasuula been stew or salta meat platters?