In March 2006, I had a rare opportunity to visit the extraordinary city of Sanaa, Yemen. Sanaa’ has been inhabited for over 2,500 years and sits in a valey at an altitude of 2,200m. In the 6th and 7th centuries, it became a major religious and political center for Islam. The architecture of the old city, most of which was built before the 11th century, still stands to this day. It is, in fact, still a bustling city with over 6000 houses, mosques, old souks and many labyrinths. It is an outstanding example of homogenous architecture influenced by early Islamic art, which is distinguished for its beautiful and intricate geometric patterns.

It is no wonder that Sanaa’s old city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Unfortunately, Sanaa’ has suffered irreparable damage from floods and war in recent years.