Souk de Sanaa (Yemen, beginning of the 90's)

CAUTION : THIS VIDEO IS VERY OLD, THESES PLACES HAVE NOW CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED
(Recent travelers have said to me that they don't recognize this place and that my video is outdated.
It's true, it was Yemen when I was young ... decades ago...
It's a window to the past for people interested by old footages, certainly not indication for present day travelers!)
Souk of Sanaa (Yemen)
Sanaa sometimes spelled Sanaa or Sana'a) is the capital of Yemen and the centre of San'a' Governorate. San'a' is located at 15.354722° N 44.20667° E and has a population of 1,747,627 (2004 census).


San'a' lies in the heart of Yemeni highlands on a plateau at an altitude of 2200m surrounded by several mountains, notably Jabal Nuqum and Aiban. The city is around 320 km north of Aden.


San'a' is one of the ancient Yemeni cities dating back to the Sabaean dynasty of the 6th Century BC. The oldest written reference to its existence is found in inscriptions which date back to the 1st Century AD. It is suggested that San'a' was the capital of the Himyarite kingdom at the onset of the 6th Century AD.
When King Yousef Athar (or Dhu Nuwas), the last of the Himyarite kings, was in power, San'a' was also the capital of the Ethiopian viceroys, then after 570 of the Persians.
As of the dawn of Islam until the detachment of independent sub-states in many parts of Yemen Islamic Caliphate, San'a' persisted as the governing seat, who himself is Caliph's deputy in running the affairs of one of Yemen's Three Makhalifs: Mikhlaf San'a', Mikhlaf al-Janad and Mikhlaf Hadhramawt. The city of San'a' recurrently assumed an important status and all Yemenite States competed to control it.
The Mamelukes arrived in Yemen in AD 1517. Following the collapse of the Mamelukes in Egypt at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, Yemen fell under the Ottoman Rule and during the first Ottoman rule of Yemen between 1538-1635, San'a' became the capital of the Ottoman Vilayet and also during the Ottoman second rule 1872-1918. In 1918, San'a' was the capital of Imam Yahya, who ruled North Yemen. At the onset of the 1962 revolution which deposed the imamate rule, it became the capital of the Arab Republic of Yemen. It was then the capital of unified Yemen in 1990 where it is dubbed as the historical capital of Yemen.


The old, fortified city has been inhabited for more than 2500 years and contains a wealth of intact architectural gems. It was declared a World Heritage City by the United Nations in 1984. Efforts are underway to preserve some of the oldest buildings, some of which are over 400 years old. Surrounded by ancient clay walls which stand six to nine metres (20-30ft) high, the old city boasts over 100 mosques, 12 hammams (baths) and 6500 houses. Many of the houses look rather like ancient skyscrapers -- reaching several storeys high and topped with flat roofs, they are decorated with elaborate friezes and intricately carved windows.
One of the most popular attractions is Suq al-Milh (Salt Market), where it is possible to buy not only salt but also bread, spices, raisins, cotton, copper, pottery, silverware, antiques, and a host of other goods. The majestic seventh century al-Jami'a l-Kabir (The Great Mosque) is one of the oldest in the Muslim world. Bāb al-Yaman "Yemen Gate" is an iconized entry point through the city walls and is over 700 years old. (wikipedia)

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[valpard]

Recent travelers have said to me that they don't recognize this place and that my video is outdated.

It's true, it was Yemen when I was young ... decades ago...

It's a window to the past for people interested by old footages, certainly not indication for present day travelers!

[hoenekopp]

I have seen this place first time 1977, often in the mean time- last time 2007…. There are changes, but: this place still is to recognize… an I love Yemen

[truthisholy]

@tadelesh12 You are ignorant. I've lived in Yemen for years in my youth and I can say for certain that Yemenis do not look African at all. If there are black Africans they are to be found to the south (formerly South Yemen, in Aden and like cities) where they immigrated from Africa across the Red Sea. Native Yemenis look Middle Eastern/Semitic. It's the truth in Sana'a and most of the original North Yemen.

[MrAk47u]

lol same souk for moor than 2600 years

[tadelesh12]

The Abyssinians/ Ethiopians civilized the Arab world who are Africans, this mystica civilization was their creation from scratch.

Thank to honost histrorians the world know better today than ever, they control for centuries but now it is our of control. It is so blind folded by ignorance to say that Yemenis are not African, people have eyes can they are more look like the African than anyone else but to claim the civilization they must lie.

[heymanhaha]

The pavement has changed since that time.

[BaerchenprinzBln]

I was just there and it doesn´t look so different to be frank. People were so nice, eating kat and offering great handmade works that are hard to find in Europe. Loved it. Sanaa was to me unexpectedly beautiful and charming. In fact one of the most attractive old cities worldwide. :-)

[mnmur22]

how could you tell it's the 90's, it looks the same, 90,s 80,s or now, it is all the same souk!!!

[INeverDie99]

DUBAI 25 years ago was worser than this. Now they are above the world with their land. Suadi Arabia was the same. Yemen is next there are BIG PLANS for yemen. Its all a matter of time. and the president needs to smarten up. Who ever owns land in yemen will be very successful. nothing comes overnight. JUST BE PATIENT.

[ELHAJAJI]

yeah ok whatever...lol

[aberashki]

I know the truth hurt but too bad the world knows better.Thank to the Scolars who are straighten the ancient history now no more to argue everybody has knowledge of the past.the Egyptions close relative to Africans than any other world.Africa is the birth place of civilization and the birth place of man kind.love,care,peace,unit,just­ice 4all living.