Why namely Ibb?

The historical part of Ibb – the capital of the eponymous province in Yemen – can be put on the UNESCO World Heritage List. At least, that’s what the country’s authorities are interested in. Ibb was founded during the time of Himyarite Kingdom – the ancient state that existed on the site of modern Yemen between the second century BC until the sixth century AD. It appeared as a trading center on the way from the coast of the Arabian Sea to the capital of the country Sanaa. Ibb is famous for its architecture – in the old town there are buildings that have survived from the pre-Islamic times. There are also several medieval mosques that have been preserved until our time. Most homes were built using stone blocks, which distinguishes Yemen from other cities. The historical part of the city is unsuitable for traveling by car. The city is surrounded by mountains.

The UNESCO World Heritage List is a list of natural and man-made monuments declared the heritage of all mankind. It was established in order to glorify and protect the sites that are unique of their kind. Today the list contains 981 positions, 193 of which are important natural monuments, 759 – have exceptional cultural value, and 29 combine both criteria. There are already four sites on the territory of Yemen that have been put on the list, namely: a small archipelago Socotra of four islands known for a high concentration of endemic species, and also the old towns of Sanaa, Shibam, and Zabid. Zabid is recognized as an endangered site because most of the buildings, including the ancient bazaar, are in poor condition and about 40 percent of the historic buildings have been superseded by modern construction.