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Basra Iraq's second largest city and main seaport, Basra is situated in the south of Iraq, some 130k m from the Gulf and 550 km south-east of Baghdad. The city was originally built as a military base by Caliph Omar during his expedition against the Shah of Persia. It developed soon to become an important departure point for Arab trading ships sailing to the Far East - Sinbad the Sailor always left from Basra. Today Basra consists of three main areas: Ashar, which is the old commercial centre, including the Corniche and the bazaars, Margil, which includes the port and modern residential areas and Basra proper, which is the old residential area, with many old-style houses. One of the major attractions is the Basra Museum. It contains Sumerian, Babylonian and Islamic objects. The Museum for Martyrs of the Persian Aggression, containing displays relating to the sufferings of the ordinary people of Basra during the Iran-Iraq War, is interesting as well - because it gives some inside in how the Iraqi government displays its own history. The main Bazaar is found in the Ashar district. It is full of old houses with balconies leaning over into the narrow streets and beautiful wooden facades in the style of old Arab architecture. Since the gulf war the Bazar is not as lively as it once was.
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