Uncovering the echo of history: 9 charming cities steeped in Islamic heritage

Islamic cities of the past do not belong only to ancient times; they pulse with the present. Here are nine cities from around the world that offer a glimpse of past glories and the tranquility of today.

Entering these cities is embarking on a captivating journey through time. Admire Arabic calligraphy that once whispered prayers centuries ago, marvel at architectural innovations that seemed to defy gravity, and immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of languages and customs that continue to thrive.

You can also explore interactive exhibits that bridge historical artifacts and modern life, and take part in workshops led by respected scholars and artists that encourage intergenerational dialogue and understanding. Discover bustling places where traditional craftsmen display their skills and create contemporary works that reflect time-honored techniques.

It is a living story of the past, from ancient treasures to contemporary, vibrant expressions of faith.

1. Bukhara

In the heart of Central Asia, where the sun turns the desert a warm, yellowish hue, lies Bukhara. Caravans loaded with silk and spices gave rise to Bukhara’s labyrinthine core. Sunny alleys fill with the aroma of freshly baked flatbread, their warmth mingling with dreams of distant lands.

Located on the Silk Road, the city long served as a center of commerce, scholarship, culture, and religion. Bukhara was the capital of the Samanid state, later the Khanate of Bukhara and the Emirate of Bukhara.

Bukhara is among the best-preserved Islamic cities in Central Asia from the tenth to the seventeenth centuries, with an urban fabric that remained largely intact—mainly because the city was partly abandoned after Soviet control.

Bukhara is not just a destination but a gateway to another era. Here history is not a museum exhibit; it lives in every mosaic, every worn corridor, whispering tales of conquerors and of Sufi poets.

2. Gjirokastër

Gjirokastër rises from a valley like a crown perched above rocky hills. Its fortress-like silhouettes testify to a city steeped in resilience and beauty. Cobbled streets wind past Ottoman houses decorated with delicate stonework, standing beside Byzantine churches that whisper forgotten prayers.

Blended with the scent of grilled peppers and Turkish coffee, this southern Albanian city invites exploration.

Gjirokastër grew rapidly under Ottoman rule and was a major site of Ottoman urbanization in the Balkans. From the sixteenth century until the early nineteenth century, Gjirokastër shifted from a predominantly Christian city to a Muslim-majority city.

It is home to Albanian and Greek polyphonic singing and hosts the National Folklore Festival every five years. Launched in 1968, the festival takes place at Gjirokastër Castle.

Gjirokastër features an old Ottoman market originally built in the 17th century. More than 500 houses are preserved as cultural monuments today. The Gjirokastër Mosque, built in 1757, dominates the market.

3. Kashgar

Kashgar is a blazing oasis of pomegranate tones and cymbal sounds. Under the gaze of the snow-capped Kunlun peaks, China’s westernmost city sits near the country’s borders with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

For more than 2,000 years, Kashgar has been a strategically important oasis on the Silk Road between China, the Middle East, and Europe. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

At the crossroads of diverse cultures and empires, Kashgar has been ruled by Chinese, Turkish, Mongol, and Tibetan powers. The city was also the site of numerous conflicts between various steppe groups.

Kashgar’s famous Uyghur cuisine features roast lamb and beef, kebabs, and rice dishes. Traditionally, specific dishes such as pilaf are eaten with the hands rather than utensils like spoons, forks, or chopsticks.

4. Samarkand

Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a center of Islamic architecture and heritage in Central Asia, is the birthplace of the Timurid renaissance. In the fourteenth century, Timur made it the capital of his empire and the site of his mausoleum.

Timur gained a reputation as a patron of the arts, and Samarkand grew into a cultural hub for the trans-Mesopotamian region. In contrast to his cruelty toward enemies, he showed mercy to skilled artists, craftsmen, and architects.

Those artists and craftsmen were spared execution so they could enrich and beautify Timur’s capital.

Ibn Battuta, who visited in 1333, described Samarkand as "one of the greatest, most prestigious and most beautiful cities."

5. Timbuktu

Timbuktu, a city long associated with mystery and adventure, lies about twenty kilometers (12 miles) north of the Niger River in Mali.

In its golden age, the city’s many Muslim scholars and its wide trade network supported the exchange of important books, along with the Sankor school, an Islamic university. This made Timbuktu a major center of learning in the region.

Timbuktu’s libraries were filled with manuscripts on religion, law, mathematics, and astronomy. The city also had a thriving arts community; artisans produced fine textiles, jewelry, and pottery.

Far-off tales of strange treasures helped build Timbuktu’s mystique in Europe, where the city’s reputation shifted from immense wealth to mysterious exile.

Today, Timbuktu is a popular destination, and its three great mosques—Djingareyber, Sankore, and Sidi Yahya—still stand as reminders of its rich history.

6. Alexandria

Alexandria, the pearl of the Nile, remains youthful in spirit, alive with sun-bleached facades, crowded squares, and the lingering echoes of bygone empires.

Alexandria is Egypt’s second-largest city and the largest on the Mediterranean coast. Founded near an earlier Egyptian settlement, Alexandria grew rapidly and became a major center of Hellenic civilization, replacing Memphis as Egypt’s capital under the Ptolemies.

It retained that status for nearly a thousand years under Roman and Eastern Roman rule until the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 641 CE, when a new capital was established.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina was inaugurated in 2002 in memory of the ancient Library of Alexandria, once among the largest libraries in the world. The modern library can accommodate eight million books; its main reading room covers 20,000 square meters. The complex also includes specialized libraries for maps, multimedia, the visually impaired, youth, and children.

7. Malacca

The historic state of Malacca lies in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca. Once the capital of the Malay Sultanate of Malacca, founded in the early fifteenth century, the state embodies Southeast Asia’s daily cosmopolitanism.

The city of Malacca is located 148 kilometers southeast of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, and 247 kilometers from Singapore.

Malacca is famous for its unique history and is a major tourist destination in Malaysia. Its strategic location on international trade routes made Malacca a well-known trading hub in the East. Merchants from Arabia, China, and India settled here and traded at the port. From that mixing came many communities and peoples who remain in Malacca today.

Malacca has long been ethnically diverse, reflecting its history: Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other groups such as the Peranakan, Kristang, Chitty, and Eurasians are important communities living in Malacca today.

8. Fez

After the destruction of Aleppo, Fez may be the only Islamic city that has not only preserved its original character and cultural traits but still functions as a living, thriving city.

Surrounded by hills, the old medina centers on the Fez River, which flows from west to east. Fez earned the nickname "Athens of Africa" and is Morocco’s spiritual and cultural capital.

Fez was founded under the Idrisids in 789 AD. Many of its early inhabitants were Arab immigrants from Ifriqiya (Tunisia) and al-Andalus (Iberia), who arrived in the early ninth century and shaped the city’s Arab character. Under the Almoravids, the city gained a reputation for religious scholarship and commerce.

Fez reached its peak under the Marinids between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries and regained status as a political capital. Many madrasas and mosques were built then; several survive or have been restored.

In 1276, the Marinid sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub established the royal administrative quarter of New Fez, where the royal palace (Dar al-Makhzen) still stands, later surrounded by extensive gardens.

Fez has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, and many foreigners now restore traditional houses—riads and dars—as second homes in the old city. In 1981, UNESCO designated the Old City of Fez a World Heritage Site, calling it "one of the most extensive and best-preserved historic cities in the Arab-Islamic world." It was the first site in Morocco to receive that designation.

9. Kyrenia

Known as the "jewel of Cyprus," Kyrenia features a picturesque harbor and castle and is packed with hotels, leisure facilities, lively nightlife, and shopping.

Kyrenia and its surroundings have traditionally drawn beachgoers seeking unspoiled coastline. Its mild climate, rich history, and natural beauty attract visitors. Ecotourism has grown recently, with tourists coming for birdwatching, cycling, hiking, and wildflower viewing. The well-preserved Karpas Peninsula includes the tourist area of Bafra, a hub for beachgoers where larger hotels and visitor facilities have been developed and where festivals celebrate rural traditions.

Kantara Castle, with Byzantine and Frankish architectural elements and originally built as a watchtower against pirate raids, attracts visitors. A marina built to host international yachts and boats and a range of facilities support tourism in the area.