Basra - Cityscape

Cityscape

• The old mosque of Basra, the first mosque in Islam outside the Arabian peninsula.

• Sinbad Island is located in the center of Shatt Al-Arab, near the Miinaalmakl, and extends above the bridge Khaled and is a tourist landmark.

• Sayab's House Ruins is the site of the most famous home of the poet Badr Shakir al-Sayyab. There is also a statue of Sayab, one of the statues in Basra done by the artist and sculptor nada' Kadhum, located on al-Basrah Corniche; it was unveiled in 1972.

• Basra Sports City is the largest sport city in the Middle East, located on the Shatt al-Basra.

• Palm tree forests are largely located on the shores of shatt-al Arab waterway, especially in the nearby village of Abu Al-Khasib.

• Corniche al-Basra is a street which runs on the shore of the Shatt al-Arab; it goes from the Lion of Babylon Square to the Four Palaces.

• Basra International Hotel (formally known as Basra Sheraton Hotel) is located on the Corniche street. The only five star hotel in the city, it is notable for its Shanasheel style exterior design. The hotel was heavily looted during the Iraq War, and it has been renovated recently.

• Sayyed Ali al-Musawi Mosque, also known as the Mosque of the Children of Amer, is located in the city center, on Al-Gazear Street, and it was built for Shia Imami's leader Sayyed Ali al-Moussawi, whose followers lived in Iraq and neighboring countries.

• The Fun City of Basrah, which is now called Basra Land, is one of the oldest theme-park entertainment cities in the south of the country, and the largest involving a large number of games giants. It was damaged during the war, and has been rebuilt.

• Akhora Park is one of the city's older parks. It is located on al-Basra Street.

• There are four formal presidential palaces in Basrah.

• The Latin Church is located on the 14th of July Street.

• Indian Market (Amogaiz) is one of the main bazaars in the city. It is called the Indian Market, since it had Indian vendors working there at the beginning of the last century.

• Hanna-Sheikh Bazaar is an old market; it was established by the powerful and famous Hanna-Sheikh family.