The castles, forts and walls of Oman are a testament to the Sultanate’s architectural style. According to Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, “Like the country’s diverse terrain, architectural styles vary in Oman with the change of scenery. The types of houses built in Musandam Governorate are examples of this diversity. There are the mountain houses, houses like Bayt Al Qefel (the lock house), Bayt Al Areesh Al Mua’laq (the hanging vine house) built to employ the natural air currents to form a cooling system able to beat the scorching heat of the summer months. Misfat Al Abreyeen village in A’Dakhiliyah Region is considered another outstanding testament to this environmentally friendly style of architecture.”
Among the old neighbourhoods in the Wilayat of Bahla is Al Aqar neighbourhood, one of the oldest Omani neighbourhoods, which represents a model of the historical buildings of the traditional Omani architecture, locally called “Al Harat”. It is located in the ancient Bahla Oasis, which has been included in the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO since 1987. Al Aqar is located within the boundaries of the 12-kilometre-long defensive wall of Bahla, which is militarily fortified. The neighbourhood is also attached to two urban centres: Al Ghuzaili and Al Hawaya neighbourhoods. It maintains its identity and geographical location.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Wilayat Bawshar, Muscat Governorate, is a live monument housing a collection of Islamic art. In addition to its distinctive architectural features and the innovative approach to the construction of the mosque itself, its corridors display a rich array of the art of Islam.
According to Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, the mosque is an architectural masterpiece and Oman’s pride and joy. The mosque is home to the world’s second largest hand-woven carpet as well as one of the largest chandeliers in the world which is decorated with hundreds of Swarovski crystals.
