Founded in 762 by the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur as a perfectly round city, Baghdad became the heart of the Islamic Golden Age. Scholars at the House of Wisdom translated Greek philosophy, advanced algebra and mapped the stars, while merchants brought silk and spices along the Tigris.
A capital that reads
There is an old saying: Cairo writes, Beirut publishes and Baghdad reads. Every Friday, al-Mutanabbi Street fills with booksellers, poets and families, spilling out into the historic Shabandar Café.
Along the river
Stroll the Abu Nuwas riverside at sunset when families gather and masgouf — carp grilled over open fire — is served on the banks of the Tigris.
