Sightseeing in Medina - what to see. Complete travel guide

The word Medina can be translated as "city". This is the second holy city for all Islam people. According to one theory Medina has been the first city that followed the precepts of the Great Prophet.

The main place of interest of the city is located in its very center. This is a complex of mosques named Masjid al Nabawi. It is believed that once the house of the Prophet Muhammad was built on this place. Not far away from the walls of his house he built first mosques, which, unfortunately, failed to survive. Instead of these buildings was built a new complex, which became the greatest building in the world. Here is located another attraction - the tomb of the prophet, as well as the tomb of his daughter Fatima and the first caliph Abu Bakr. On the territory of the city you can see over a hundred of mosques that have been constructed on different epochs. Masjid Cuba built in the 7th century is considered the first mosque.

Because Medina is the world's largest religious center, the entrance to its territory is limited to Muslims only. However, everyone can visit suburban areas. It is also worth mentioning that you still will be able to look at the holy places, even from afar. Holiday season is the best time to visit Medina as the climate in this region is rather peculiar. In summer it is very hot and winters are very cold. However, fall and spring will never prevent you from walks and sightseeing. You'll be surprised to see a huge number of palm groves in this place. It is believed that first palm trees have appeared exactly in this area, and then spread throughout Saudi Arabia. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Masjid al-Qiblatayn Mosque is a no less majestic religious monument. It is a complicated complex of buildings, whose walls are painted white. This mosque differs in its non-standard architectural form. The complex is decorated with many miniature towers and domes. This mosque is also very large. It has a spacious courtyard in which several dozens of palms are planted. Inside the mosque is decorated in light colors. Its visitors can admire the huge chandeliers, the skilful carvings on the walls, as well as ornaments from natural wood.

An original historical site is the ancient cemetery Jannat al-Baqi. It is believed that in this cemetery many rich and famous inhabitants of Medina buried. It is now impossible to find the tombs. From many tombstones there were only fragments of old stones covered with cracks because, for many years the cemetery was in desolation. Not long ago, a tourist center was built on its territory. Excursions to the alleged graves of the great prophets are organized for pilgrims and tourists.

Fans of fascinating excursions should definitely visit the Al-Madina museum. Its location is a splendid old palace in the national style. A significant part of the artifacts stored in the museum also belongs to religious subjects. Here you can see the belongings of many prophets, old books, jewelry made of precious metals and unique relics that were once kept in ancient mosques. The tour of this museum promises to be incredibly informative. Its collection of religious artifacts is one of the most valuable in the country.

Very interesting excursions to the archaeological area of Madain Saleh Tombs are organized for guests of Medina. Several years ago in this area, researchers discovered the ruins of an ancient city. Its inhabitants carved out their houses and built classy palaces right on the rocks. Several such majestic stone structures have been preserved almost completely to this day. How thousands of years ago the locals managed to build such complex attractions on the rocks, still remains a mystery for researchers. In addition to the majestic stone monuments, in this area, a small museum with a collection of historical artifacts is accessible to tourists to visit.