Jabal Haraz, Yemen

Jabal Haraz is a picturesque mountain region ofYemen, between Sana'a and al-Hudayda. In the 11th century it was the stronghold of the Sulaihiddynasty, many of whose buildings survive. Because of its location between the Tihamah coastal plain and Sana'a, this mountainous area has always been strategically important. A caravan stopping point during the Himyarite Kingdom, the Haraz was later the stronghold of the Sulaihid State which was established in Yemen in 1037. Then and subsequently the population have been Ism'aili Muslims. Source: Wikipedia 

Haraz is as famous for the beauty of its landscapes as for its fortified villages clinging to nearly inaccessible rocky peaks. Their imposing architecture meets two needs, defending the villagers while leaving plenty of space for crops. Each town is built like a castle; the houses themselves form the wall, equipped with one or two easily defensible doors. 

Constructed from sandstone and basalt, the buildings are perfectly integrated into the landscape and it is difficult to tell where the rock and the village begins or ends. The mountain is divided into terraces of a few acres or more, separated by walls sometimes several meters high. On these remarkable terraced fields grow alfalfa for livestock, millet, lentils, large areas for coffee and qat. Source: Wikipedia