If you believe the Yemenis, Sana'a is one of the first sites of human settlement, founded by Noah's son, Shem. Other sources suggest the city has been around since at least the 2nd century AD, and up until 1962 the city still nestled within its ancient walls, surrounded by green fields.
These days, Sana'a is a sprawls outside the walls and many houses in the Old City are over 400 years old. The area within the walls is the largest preserved medina in the Arab world. Mosque minarets rise above the tower houses, and the city is sprinkled with Ottoman bathhouses.
© 2005 Lonely Planet Publications