60. Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
Miri Arab madressah in en:Bukhara. [ Photo by Anatoly Terentiev / public domain ]
Bukhara (Persian: بُخارا; Tajik: Бухоро; Uzbek: Buxoro / Бухоро), from the Soghdian βuxārak ("lucky place"), is the capital of the Bukhara Province (viloyat) of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 (2009 census estimate). The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time. Located on the Silk Road, the city has long been a center of trade, scholarship, culture, and religion. The historic center of Bukhara, which contains numerous mosques and madrassas, has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)61. Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
Registan mosques in Samarkand. [ Photo by Steve Evans (babasteve) / CC BY 2.0 ]Samarkand (Uzbek: Samarqand; Tajik: Самарқанд; Persian: سمرقند; from Sogdian: "Stone Fort" or "Rock Town") is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand Province. The city is most noted for its central position on the Silk Road between China and the West, and for being an Islamic centre for scholarly study. In the 14th century, it became the capital of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane), and is the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The Bibi-Khanym Mosque remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. The Registan was the ancient centre of the city. There are several theories regarding the name of Samarkand. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)62. Hội An (Vietnam)
A photo of Hoi An Ancient Town [ Photo by Crazy3108 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Hội An is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quảng Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants. It has been recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Today, the town is a major tourist attraction because of its traditional architecture, crafts such as textiles and ceramics preserved and visitors are exploited. Many bars, hotels, and resorts have been constructed both in Hội An and the surrounding area. The port mouth and boats are still used for both fishing and tourism. The city possessed the largest harbour in Southeast Asia in the 1st century and was known as Lâm Ấp Phố (Champa City). Between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Cham (people of Champa) controlled the strategic spice trade and with this came tremendous wealth. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)63. Hue (Vietnam)
Noon gate at Hue citadel [ Photo by Lưu Ly / public domain ]Huế (化 in chữ Nôm) is the capital city of Thừa Thiên – Huế province, Vietnam. Between 1802 and 1945, it was the imperial capital of the Nguyễn Dynasty. It is well known for its monuments and architecture. Its population stands at about 340,000 people. Today, little of the forbidden city remains, though reconstruction efforts are in progress to maintain it as a historic tourist attraction. Huế originally rose to prominence as the capital of the Nguyễn Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Trịnh Sâm captured it, it was known as Phú Xuân. In 1802, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Huế the national capital. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)Middle East
64. Isfahan (Iran)
33 Pol Bridge. [ Photo by Farokh Behmardi / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]Isfahan (Persian: اصفهان Esfahān), historically also rendered in English as Ispahan, Sepahan or Hispahan, is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 km south of Tehran. It has a population of 1,583,609, Iran's third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad. The Isfahan metropolitan area had a population of 3,430,353 in the 2006 Census, the second most populous metropolitan area in Iran after Tehran. The history of Isfahan can be traced back to the Palaeolithic period. In recent discoveries, archaeologists have found artefacts dating back to the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages. Esfahan fell temporarily under the rule of Arabs until the Abbasid era, only being attended to by Al-Mansur. In the 10th century, under the Buwayhid Dynasty, Esfahan regained its importance. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)65. Acre (Israel)
Acre's Port [ Photo by Deror avi / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Acre (Hebrew: עַכּוֹ, Akko; Arabic: عكّا, ʻAkkā), is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country. Historically, it was a strategic coastal link to the Levant. Acre is the holiest city of the Bahá'í Faith. In 2009, the population was 46,300. Acre is a mixed city, 72 percent Jewish and 28 percent Arab. The mayor is Shimon Lankri, who was re-elected in 2011. Strabo refers to the city as once a rendezvous for the Persians in their expeditions against Egypt. About 165 BC Judas Maccabeus defeated the Syrians in many battles in Galilee, and drove them into Ptolemais. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)66. Jerusalem (Israel)
The Temple Mount [ Photo by אסף.צ / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Jerusalem (Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, Yerushaláyim, ISO 259-3 Yrušalaym, "Abode of Peace"; Arabic: القُدس, al-Quds [al-Sharif], "The Holy Sanctuary", أُورشَلِيم, Ūrshalīm)[ii] is the capital of Israel, though not internationally recognized as such.[iii] If the area and population of East Jerusalem is included, it is Israel's largest city in both population and area, with a population of 763,800 residents over an area of 125.1 km2 (48.3 sq mi).[iv] Located in the Judean Mountains, between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern edge of the Dead Sea, modern Jerusalem has grown far beyond the boundaries of the Old City. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)67. Beirut (Lebanon)
Mohammad al-Amin mosque and Saint George Maronite Cathedral sit side by side in Beirut's central district [ Photo byLebnen18 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Beirut (Arabic: بيروت Bayrūt, French: Beyrouth) is the capital and largest city of Lebanon with a population ranging from some 1 million to more than 2 million as of 2007. Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's coastline with the Mediterranean, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan Area, which consists of the city and its suburbs. The first mention of this metropolis is found in the ancient Egyptian Tell el Amarna letters, dating to the 15th century BC, and the city has been continuously inhabited since. After the destructive Lebanese civil war, Beirut underwent major reconstruction, and the redesigned historic city centre, marina, pubs and nightlife districts have once again rendered it a tourist attraction. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)68. Byblos (Lebanon)
The souk at Byblos [ Photo by Linaduliban / public domain ]Byblos (Ancient Greek: Βύβλος) is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal (Hebrew: גְבַל; earlier Gubla, Phoenician: ������). It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of (جبيل Jubayl) and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades. It is believed to have been founded around 5000 BC, and according to fragments attributed to the semi-legendary pre-Trojan war Phoenician historian Sanchuniathon, it was built by Cronus as the first city in Phoenicia. Today it is believed by many to be the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world. Byblos is re-emerging as an upscale touristic hub. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)69. Tyre (Lebanon)
The fantastic remains of the ancient Triumphal Arch in Tyre, Lebanon. [ Photo by David Bjorgen / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]Tyre (Arabic: صور, Ṣūr; Phoenician:, Ṣur; Hebrew: צוֹר, Tzor; Tiberian Hebrew צר, Ṣōr; Akkadian: ���� Ṣurru; Greek: Τύρος, Týros; Turkish: Sur; Latin: Tyrus) is a city in the South Governorate of Lebanon. There were approximately 117,000 inhabitants in 2003, however, the government of Lebanon has released only rough estimates of population numbers since 1932, so an accurate statistical accounting is not possible. Tyre juts out from the coast of the Mediterranean and is located about 80 km (50 mi) south of Beirut. The name of the city means "rock" after the rocky formation on which the town was originally built. The adjective for Tyre is Tyrian, and the inhabitants are Tyrians. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)70. Damascus (Syria)
The Umayyad Mosque – The Dome of the Eagle (Qubbat Al-Nisr), Damascus [ Photo by Jerzy Strzelecki / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Damascus (Arabic: دِمَشق Dimashq), commonly known in Syria as Al Sham (Arabic: الشام Al Shām), and as the City of Jasmine (Arabic: مدينة الياسمين Madīnatu 'i Yāsmīn), is the capital and the largest city of Syria and one of the country's 14 governorates. The Damascus Governorate is ruled by a governor appointed by the Minister of Interior. Damascus is a major cultural and religious center of the Levant. The city has an estimated population of 4,211,000 (2009 est.). Since the early 2000s, numerous boutique hotels and bustling cafes opened in the old city which attract plenty of European tourists and Damascenes alike. The real-estate sector is booming in Damascus. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)71. Istanbul (Turkey)
Hagia Sophia, standing in Istanbul. [ Photo by Christophe Meneboeuf (http://www.pixinn.net) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul), historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople (see the names of Istanbul for further information) is the largest city of Turkey. According to the address-based birth recording system of the Turkish Statistical Institute, the metropolitan municipality (province) of the city had a population of 13.26 million as of 2010, which is 17.98% of Turkey's population. The last census data from 2000 puts its proper population at 8.8 million. Istanbul is a megacity, as well as the cultural, economic, and financial centre of Turkey. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbour known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) sides of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)72. Sana'a (Yemen)
Sana'a, also spelt Sanaa, is the capital of Yemen and the centre of San‘a’ Governorate; however the city itself is not part of the Governorate, but forms the separate administrative district of "Amanat Al-Asemah". 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, Sana'a became the capital of the Ottoman wilayah and also during the Ottoman second rule 1872-1918. In 1918, Sana'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 Yemen Arab Republic. It was then the capital of unified Yemen in 1990 where it is dubbed as the historical capital of Yemen. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)73. Shibam (Yemen)
The high-rise architectures at Shibam, Wadi Hadhramaut (or Hadhramout, Hadramawt) Yemen. [ Photo by Jialiang Gao www.peace-on-earth.org / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Shibam (Arabic: شبام) (often referred to as Shibam Hadhramaut) is a town in Yemen with about 7,000 inhabitants. The first known inscription about the city dates from the 3rd century AD. It was the capital of the Hadramawt Kingdom. Shibam, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, owes its fame to its distinct architecture.The houses of Shibam are all made out of mud brick and about 500 of them are tower houses, which rise 5 to 11 stories high, with each floor having one or two rooms. This architectural style was used in order to protect residents from Bedouin attacks. While Shibam has been in existence for an estimated 1,700 years, most of the city's houses originate from the 16th century. Many, though, have been rebuilt numerous times in the last few centuries. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)
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