Al-Ashrafiya Madrasa

Old City of Taiz, Yemen

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Located in the old city of Taiz, Yemen, at the foot of Mount Sabr, the Al-Ashrafiya Madrasa and Mosque stands as one of the most significant preserved monuments of Islamic architecture in the region. Built in two stages—first by Sultan Al-Ashraf Umar II around 1295–6 and later completed and opened by Sultan Al-Ashraf Isma'il I in 1382—this madrasa-mosque complex represents a major center in Yemeni Islamic history, rivaling the nearby Mudhaffar Mosque in importance. Constructed from djuss, qadad, adobe, stone, and iron, the building is distinguished by its notable architectural design and capacity to accommodate between 120 and 800 worshippers. Situated in the Ashrafiya neighborhood with views overlooking the Cairo Citadel, it remains arguably the most notable preserved artifact of Taiz.