Stunning Old-World Cities That Still Feel Frozen in Time

27. Shibam, Yemen: The "Manhattan of the Desert"

Imagine a city rising like a cluster of ancient skyscrapers from the desert floor. Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Yemen, is renowned for its unique 16th-century mud-brick tower houses, some reaching seven stories high. Built to protect against Bedouin raids, these remarkably preserved structures have earned it the nickname "the Manhattan of the Desert." Walking its narrow alleys feels like stepping into an ancient, fantastical urban landscape, offering a profound glimpse into a unique form of desert civilization and architecture that has endured for centuries.