Manhattan of the Desert
The Old Walled City of Shibam is a town of 7,000 people in Hadramawt, Yemen.
It's claim to fame is through its architecture – often named the "Manhattan of the Desert" or the "oldest skyscraper-city in the world."
Shibam has the tallest mud-built buildings in the world, many of them 5 to 16 stories high. The city, built over 450 years ago, was strategically designed to protect and defend the town's residents from beduin attacks. The tallest mudbrick building in Shibam is 53 meters (175 feet) tall.
Shibam made headlines recently in an unfortunate way, when an explosion caused by suspected Islamic militants killed four tourists and their local guide in the city. This was a unique event in Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's a popular tourist destination for people from around the world.
The Republic of Yemen has a reputation of being a friendly and safe country to travel; more than 350,000 tourists visit the tiny country each year. This reputation has been tarnished, for the time being, due to one senseless act of terrorism.
While no country in the world is 110% safe, remember to always research your travels before you go, making sure you take the necessary precautions to have a safe and enjoyable trip.
Tags:
No comments yet... Be the first to leave a reply!