Aden was one of the rich ancient Arab Cities. It had a deep rooted history dating back to 3000 and was mentioned in the Mousnad inscriptions. It was also mentioned in the Old Testament as “Eden

Old Aden Town

Located in the Creater and surrounded by Shamsan mountains from one side and the sea from the other sides. Most of its houses and streets date back to the end of the 19th century. The architectural style prevailing in Aden is a mix of the elements of Yemenite, Indian and Victorian architecture. The city includes important sites such as Al-Aidrus mosque and Minaret dating back to 500 years ago, and the old market with its special flavor perfumed with the smell of Adenite incense.

Defensive Fortifications:

Sira Fort

The guard post of Aden city and a symbol of its safety .It stands atop a mountain at the sea entrance. It overlooks the old port and dates back to more than one thousands years ago.

Forts and Towers

The city of Aden is surrounded by series of walls and towers dating back to more than one thousand years. They were built by several dynasties starting with Banni Zurai’ and ending with the British. Aden gate was until recently the most important of those fortification. It was demolished during the Sixties of this century.

Aden Tanks (Cisterns or Reservoirs)

They are located at the head of Attawila Wadi at the Southwest of Creater and is considered one of the great historical engineering works in Yemen. It was, first built in the ancient time and was mentioned in Al- Musnad inscriptions.

The tanks system developed throughout the successive stages of history from Bani Zurai Resulides and Tahrides until they were buried and then discovered by the British in the Mid 19th century .The British’s need of water made them attempt to modify the tanks original design, which witnessed several trails and then the British failed and gave up the tanks were designed both to collect the scarce rain water and divert run off to protect the city of Aden, in case of heavy rains and sweeping floods. They amounted to 53 tank only 13 remained. Today they are a tourist attraction.

Al-Tawahi Port

It is the modern port built by the British and it is different from Aden’s old port near Sira Citadel. The terminal building is one of the tourist sites in Al-Tawahi it is overlooked by a “ Big Ben” o’clock one of the surrounding hills.

The Governorate of Aden has many beautiful and clean sandy beaches around a number of small throughout Aden Gulf as well as the coasts around little ADEN, Ras Amran village and Abyan beach. There are many small medium islets around Aden in addition to the islands in the Arabian in the Arabian Sea, the most important of which in Socotra and its archipelago.

Al Tawilah Cisterns

Situated atop Al-Tawilah valley at the Southeast angle of Old Aden (Creater). Stop at the entrance of the cisterns and go with the group through the path leading to the head of the Wadi where you shall see stony stairway that guide you around the cisterns and canals linking them, sometimes at the right side and sometimes at the left side. Continue walking till you arrive at the end of the path at the mountains foot and this is not the end of the cisterns but still there are more. The best place to take photos is from a higher location after the end of the path at the left side of the mountain.

Choose the right place for standing with the group and begin talking about the history of the cisterns for through its mention in inscriptions it was known that they belong to the ancient Yemen history and that they have been developed during the Rule of Banu Zuraia’, the Roulades, the Tahirides and the Ottomans. Till they were uncovered by the British whose need and the need of garrisons and ships for water made them search for the source of water. They cleaned them and repaired them and modified their designs which were developed through history.

The modifications were not successful and they did not take avail and them. There are now only 13. They were originally for collecting water and drainage of sweeping floods for the sake of protection of the city and they are a great feat in the domain of irrigation in the history of ancient Yemen and during the Islamic Era after the visit of Al Tawilah cisterns. Go with them for the visit of Al Aidaroous mosque and Minaret which houses many tombs, particularly the eldest after whom the mosque was named and its history dates back to before 500 years and to the nearest time the tourists were permitted to have a look at the toms. Then continue your trip by car till you arrive at Vegetable Market and get down. Go with them on a tour the Taweel Market in inner town where are many shops selling the artifacts and souvenirs as well as the silverware and the Adenite Frankincense .On the car move towards the archaeological museum on the left side before the entrance to Sirah Island the sea fort of Aden throughout history.

Sirah Fortress

The Guard post of Aden located at the Entrance of Sirah and overlooks the ancient port of Aden. It has been mentioned in ancient Yemenite inscriptions that it is the round fortified fort and is one of the most ancient Yemenite forts throughout history in defending the Yemenite Coasts against invaders and raiding freebooters across the sea.