Holiday in Al Basrah

About Al Basrah

Al Basrah (Basra) is Iraq's second-largest city and the most important port on the Shatt al-Arab, the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The city was once referred to as the Venice of the East, as a network of canals ran through the old town — a legacy that is partially preserved to this day. Basra is the cultural capital of southern Iraq and the cradle of a rich literary tradition that dates back to the early Islamic period. The Shatt al-Arab, the majestic waterway on which Basra lies, is formed by the confluence of the two great Mesopotamian rivers and flows into the Persian Gulf. The Corniche along the riverbank is Basra's social center: in the evenings, families stroll under date palms, tea houses serve strong Iraqi chai, and traditional wooden boats (Mashuf) glide over the water. The sunset over the Shatt al-Arab is one of the most impressive natural spectacles of Mesopotamia. The old town of Basra (Basra al-Qadima) houses the Shanasheel houses — historic merchant houses with intricately carved wooden balconies and bay windows that extend over the narrow streets. This Ottoman-Indian architecture is unique in Iraq and is on the UNESCO World Heritage nomination list. Despite decay and war damage, some houses are now being restored. The Basra Museum (in the former Saddam Palace on the Shatt al-Arab) showcases artifacts from the Sumerian, Babylonian, and Islamic history of Mesopotamia. The Sindbad Port recalls the legends from One Thousand and One Nights — Basra is considered the home port of the mythical sailor Sindbad. The date palm plantations along the waterways were once the largest in the world, and Basra dates are still regarded as the best in Iraq.