Discover Nizwa
Nizwa landmarks
Nizwa Souq
Nizwa Market
Preserving the ancient heritage with modernity
You will notice that Nizwa Souq preserves its heritage and antiquity through the markets that sell fish, animals and traditional Omani goods. Also by preserving the old shape of the castle. Despite that, you notice that it keeps pace with the developments of the times thanks to the efforts of the people of Nizwa, as they always seek to add coffee shops (cafes) and restaurants that attract the attention of the youth, as you now find most age groups in Nizwa Souq and their attraction to something that concerns them
Information about Nizwa Souq
It is said that the Nizwa market has been around for 400 years since the end of the Yaruba state and the beginning of the Al Busaid state. It was called Al Sanasra, which comes from the Persian origin. Al Saifi added that the original location of the market was previously used as a stable for horses, then it became a treasury, until it was transformed after that into a market where various goods were traded.
Market location
The market is located near the walls of the famous Nizwa Fort, surrounded by a strong wall and high wooden doors open to the squares and shops opposite it. The market is built in a traditional manner, as it contains a number of arches, traditional alleys, and windows decorated with wood. It is a mixture of the old and the modern.
Nizwa Castle
Nizwa Castle
Castle shape
Nizwa Fort is called (Al Shahba) and is located in the Wilayat of Nizwa in the Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate and is considered one of the oldest forts in the Sultanate of Oman, as it is unique in its huge circular shape buried in dirt. Some sources mentioned that it is oval and built with stones and Omani mortar. Its height is 24 meters and its outer diameter is 43 meters and its inner diameter is 36 meters. It is a flat-topped platform built on a base filled with stones with a height of 15 meters. You can ascend to the top of the fort via a narrow staircase in the shape of the letter (H). The circular platform of the fort is equipped with openings for cannons that ensure the firing and its spread over a full 360 minutes. It has seven wells and multiple openings for the fighters defending the fort and the city during ancient times. Near the fort and fort building is the traditional Nizwa market, which is famous for its thriving handicraft industries.
Contents and uses of the castle
The castle includes 480 niches (shooters) to shoot enemies in case of any attack on it, and includes 240 decorative saddles, 120 arches for guards to stand on, and 24 openings for large cannons. Inside it are various prison sites as it was the seat of government and the implementation of punishments against perpetrators of violations and crimes of all kinds. In the middle of the seventeenth century AD, it was built by Imam Sultan bin Saif bin Malik Al Ya'arubi (1649 AD - 1679 AD), who was famous for being the Imam who expelled the Portuguese from Oman. The castle is linked to a fort with complex labyrinthine corridors. The construction of the castle took 12 years, as it began in 1656 AD and was completed in 1668 AD. The building had multiple uses, including a headquarters for the local government administration, where it was the headquarters of the Imam and his family, and a fortification site for shelter during wars.
