Cultural
Vieille ville de Sana'a
Yémen
Photo : Maria Gropa (CC BY-SA 3.0 igo)
Located in Yemen, this historic urban centre represents one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Arabian Peninsula. The old city is characterized by its distinctive multi-storey tower houses built from rammed earth and stone, featuring carved wooden lattice windows and decorated cornices that reflect centuries of architectural tradition. The settlement's layout preserves the pattern of a medieval Islamic city, with narrow winding streets, traditional markets, and religious structures arranged around central gathering spaces. The architectural style and urban organization demonstrate the adaptation of building techniques and urban planning to the local climate and available materials over centuries of habitation. The site exemplifies the cultural and commercial significance of the region during various historical periods, serving as an important node in trade networks connecting the Arabian Peninsula with surrounding regions. The preservation of its traditional building stock and urban fabric makes it a valuable record of pre-modern Islamic urban life.
