The Shibam of Al-Mahweet, stands on the edge of the Sana’a basin and Jabal Kawkaban, a mountain with a large flat summit, starting its steep ascent just behind the town and rising from 2500m to 2850m. People have been living in Shibam well before Islam. During the 1st century A.D. it served as capital of a short-lived independent state. Both Sabaean and Himyarite inscriptions can be found on stones reused in the city gate of Shibam. From 845 to 1400 A.D. Shibam again became capital—this time for the Bani Ya’fur dynasty (the first purely Yemeni dynasty of the Islamic era). Later the Zaydis conquered most of the Bani Ya’fur territories—limiting them to Shibam and Kawkaban.

Thula

Thula, another historical city, is 54km to the northwest of Sana’a, and it is considered one of the major theological centers of the country. The city stands at the eastern foot of the ancient fort of Thula, known as fort Muttahar Bin Sharaf Addin. The city is surrounded by a sold stone wall and was considered the least conquerable city of Yemen. In fact, during the Turkish occupation in the 16th century A.D. it remained unconquered with Imam Muttahir Sharaf Ad-Din thanks to the fort.

The houses of the city are high-rise structures, built of stones, which harmonize well with the overlooking mountains. The facades of the houses are embellished with decorations and moldings arch-shaped windows (Qamariyas) and decorated with pieces of marbles or stained glass. In the city center lays the great mosque with a distinctively small minaret.

Kawkaban

Kawkaban, perhaps more than any other city, shows the Yemeni passion for building houses on high, inaccessible mountains. Here you can enjoy the country from an eagle’s point of view. Kawkaban is also the place to start a bird watching trip in Yemen. It lies on top of Jabal Kawkaban, which shadows Shibam, and was built to serve as Shibam’s fortification. Several water cisterns carved out of the rocks collected water during rainy seasons and grain silos were filled during the years of peace, so the population could survive a long siege. The only door of the town is still closed and locked each night.