The Prophet ﷺ said, "The most beloved of lands to Allah is the Sacred City."
عن النبي ﷺ قال: إن أحب البلاد إلى الله البلد الحرام.
No references are available.
Ibn Abu Khaythama narrated it in his Tarikh (Akhbar Makkiyeen, no. 28) from Surayj bin Numan, who said, "Abu Muawiya (that is, Muhammad bin Khazim Dareer) narrated to us, Amash narrated to us, from Ibrahim Taymi, from his father, from Abu Dharr," and he related it. Its isnad is sahih.