Beside the Red Sea, Jeddah is the most pleasant of the large Saudi cities. Although it has succumbed to modernity, it has preserved some of its old 18th century houses, built in coral. You will see them while walking inside the walled area, which is the Old Town. The Municipal Museum is, moreover, a very beautiful example of this distinctive architecture; the museum shows a collection of photographs on the development of the town. The souqs of al-Alawi are also the most interesting in the country and definitely worth a visit should you get the chance to travel to Jeddah.