Old Sana’a: Yemen’s mystical city [Archives:2002/37/Culture]
BY: SALEH ABDULBAQI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
A nation without a past has no future. But even though the contrary is not necessarily right, but it is only natural to believe that Yemen’s future will be bright because of its rich historical and deep-rooted civilization and glory. Old Sana’a is one of the historical cities that have been fascinating tourists and visitors to Sanaa from all over the world. Whoever visits Sanaa cannot miss visiting the old buildings of Sanaa, where he/she will discover its beauty and unique architecture. Old Sanaa is also famous for its traditional handicrafts shops and Suqs (traditional markets).
A German writer who had visited Old Sana’a once said that the best description of Old Sanaa is Utopia. The city basically represents the Yemeni civilization and is among the most unique cities of the Middle East for its architectural beauty, gardens, traditional markets, mosques, walls and gates. Just as the exterior views of the old buildings in Sanaa are spectacular, so is the interior. Complex, yet fabulous decorations in the houses of Old Sanaa add to the beauty and uniqueness of the city.
For the most spectacular scene of the city, one needs to view it just before sunset or during sunrise. The orange light rays have yet a mysterious touch on the old city as if it describes in a few minutes centuries of history and civilization.
The decorated marble windows called Qamarias have yet another glamorous feel on the beauty of the city’s buildings. Another person described Sana’a as a town of legends and myths as most of its houses have precious antiquities that cannot easily be described.
A visitor to any house in Old Sanaa can see the peerless design, which makes the house seem like a castle with store rooms (Dima) and wall-safes used to keep precious items such as money, jewelry, and important documents.
The architecture of old Sana’a is unique and can not be found anywhere else; its houses are built in harmonic manner and some of them may consist of seven floors separated by a decorated line from the outside (Zenar).
Every floor in houses of Old Sanaa has a specific purpose; the ground floor is sometimes used to keep animals, another floor used as a store, a third as a sitting room (Mafraj), a fourth as a kitchen, etc. Some houses have underground floors sometimes called (Dehleez), while in most houses the second floor is reserved for women and children and for receiving women guests whereas the upper floors are normally for men. The sitting room (Mafraj) is unique for its walls that are decorated and well furnished with luxurious pillows and fabrics. Its purpose is to please the visiting guests with its beautiful design and large windows which provide an overview of grape gardens in the house yard. The scene serves best as a relaxation view for those who chew qat in the room. The Mafraj is the normal place where people sit opposite each other to discuss their social affairs and solve their problems. It is ideal environment for total relaxation and conform in a mystical city.
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