The gateway to Mecca, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The historical centre of Jeddah, Al Balad (‘the town’) has been welcoming visitors for over 2,000 years. The port’s position on the Red Sea meant that it wasn’t just a key stop for pilgrims, beginning the final leg of their journey to Mecca, but also for rich merchants on the trade route. Al Balad’s 19th century trading elites constructed tower houses – ornately designed with latticed-wood mashrabiya windows – among the mosques, souks and squares, traditionally built using coral stone. This Unesco-listed site and its unique architecture is given some appreciation in a new book, Crafts of the Kingdom, which celebrates Saudi Arabia’s rich tradition of creativity, whether buildings, textiles or handicrafts: a beautifully constructed invitation to be welcomed into Al Balad yourself.

© Jonathan Nelson/alamy; Crafts of the Kingdom: Culture and Creativity in Saudi Arabia (Assouline) is out now; £150.