Introducing Ta'izz

Ibn Battuta, the great 14th-century Arab traveller, once described Ta’izz as ‘one of the largest and most beautiful cities’. It’s still large – Yemen’s third-largest city – but for beauty you need to look a little harder. The city has suffered heavily from unplanned urban growth, which has left it without any real central soul. On a positive note, Ta’izz is one of the most cosmopolitan centres in the country, thanks no doubt to its large student population. It also has one of the most eccentric and interesting museums in the country, as well as an excess of friendly people with time for a chat.