The Dar al-Hajar
Dar al-Hajar, also known as the “Rock Palace,” is a magnificent stone palace situated in the city of Sana’a, Yemen. It gives the impression of being carved out of the towering rock on which it stands. Built during the 1930s in a Middle Eastern architectural style by an Islamic spiritual leader named Yahya Muhammad Hamid Al-Din, who was assassinated in 1948, the palace remains a prime example of exquisite Yemeni architecture. Today, the palace has been restored and transformed into a museum, allowing visitors to explore its numerous sections, including kitchens, storage rooms, and meeting spaces connected by winding stairs throughout the five-story structure.
Old Sana’a
Old Sana’a is situated in a mountainous valley at an elevation of 2,200 meters and has been inhabited for over 2,500 years. In the 7th and 8th centuries, the city emerged as a significant center for the spread of Islam. It has preserved its rich cultural and political heritage, evident in its 103 mosques, 14 public baths, and over 6,000 houses dating back before the 11th century. The old city is characterized by its captivating landscape of ancient ruins, burnt towers constructed from mud, which rise several stories above the stone ground floors, adorned with geometric designs made from fired clay and white gypsum.
Socotra Island
Located approximately 355 kilometers from mainland Yemen, Socotra Island is renowned for its remarkable biodiversity. It serves as a habitat for a variety of unusual creatures and plants that have adapted to the island’s harsh climate characterized by extreme temperatures and dryness, resulting in its distinctive flora and fauna. The island is home to around 800 rare species of plants and animals, with nearly one-third found nowhere else in the world. Some of the unique specimens native to Socotra include:
- Socotra Chameleon
- Cucumber Tree
- Socotra Starling
- Dragon’s Blood Tree
- Socotra Date Palm