Saudi Arabia: Rijal Almaa Heritage Village
Rijal Almaa Heritage Village is a beautifully restored old mountain town in the southern Asir region of the country. Historically, the village lies on the mai trade and pilgrim route linking Yemen with Mecca and Levant. The spices, perfumes, jewelry, and other good traveled through Rijal Almaa and it became a major trading center. It was also here in 1825 that the armies of the local tribes stopped and degenerated the 50K strong Ottoman armies, that actually resulted in the Asir being granted a full independence from then Ottoman Empire. The almost fairytale house are tightly packed along a sloping mountain. There are about 60 stone and clay houses, all in stunning traditional architecture.
