Urban Heritage Sites
Dir'aiyah
Dir'aiyah or Al-Diriyah is on the north-west of Riyadh, on the west bank of Wadi Hanifa. It is an ancient town dating back to the middle of the 19th century Hijiri when Gusaibah Manie Bin Rabiah Al-Meridi quarter was established (the oldest quarter of Dir'aiyah) – named after a relative of the son of Darie who is the owner of the Yammama Stone.
Ever since, the town has been expanding due to the importance of its geographical centrality in the Arabian Peninsula. By the middle of 12th century Hejiri (18th century G) Imam Mohammed Bin Abdulwahab – who was born in the family of Al Saud, arrived into Dir'aiyah. The character of Imam Mohammed Bin Saud is the best one supporting advocating the Sunnah, (the way of life of Prophet Mohammed (pbu)), Muhammadiyah, hence reverting to the way of Islam. Thus as if Allah wanted to make Dir'aiyah the Center for guidance and a starting point for the proud nation building.
The most famous parts of old Dir'aiyah is the Turaif Quarter, which is remarkably preserved. This was the headquarters of the Saudi royal family. The walls of the Shura, with some defensive forts were built during the era of Imam Abdul-Aziz bin Mohammed bin Saud to avert the threat of enemy to the Shura. The total length of these walls is about seven kilometers, where the main wall is built to its full height with the use of small washing stones balancing the larger stones and plastered with layers of mud.
Masmack Palace
It is a strongly protected fortress with thick walls located in the old neighborhood of the of Riyadh city center. In the beginning of the 20th century, on the dawn of Shawwal 1319H (January 1902), this fortress was a witness to a decisive battle when the Turkish rulers were vanquished by the founder of the Kingdom, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, after conquering Riyadh and subsequent strategic expansions, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established.
Al-Muraba Palace
Another monument of historic value is located in the heart of the Riyadh city. Surrounded by vast and well maintained gardens is the Al Muraba Place. It was constructed by late King Abdulaziz following the settlement of matters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, when the country was unified in the year 1351H (1932G). The palace was built in the rectangle shape – 300 meter as length and 400 meter as width with two levels as height. The rooftop was made of local building materials such as mud and palm trees. Just across the well laid garden from the park is the Riyadh’s main museum of heritage and antiquities.
Shoubra Palace
The palace was constructed in the year 1325H (1907G) as the first historic palace in the beautiful city of Taif. It represents distinctive architectural elements and one of the key historic milestones in Taif. It has been converted to Heritage and Antiquities Museum.
Saggaf Palace
It is situated in Mecca – Ma'abdah Quarter, Al-Abtah Road. It is one of the oldest buildings in Mecca distinguished by the Islamic architecture with many decorative Islamic architectural and technical elements. This palace is a huge building comprising of two levels with main entrance as a gate in the middle of the northern façade. It has two minor entrances in the main wall. In the north-eastern side there is a fortress-shaped building or military tower with rectangular skylights and ventilations.
Khuzam Palace
The Khuzam name is given to a wide area in Al-Nuzlah Alyamaniah Quarter in Jeddah. There are many old palaces in this area and the name was given after the name of late King Abdulaziz Palace. The construction process of the palace began in the year 1347H (1928G) and completed by 1351H (1932G). The palace consisted of a two storey building and many associated buildings on the southern and western sides that form one adjacent unit and with fences of three meters high. The palace is built with solid limestone brought from the sea coast. Part of the palace is converted as a museum of Antiquities and Heritage.
Nassif House
It is located in the heart of the old city of Jeddah. This house was built at the end of the 13th Hejiri (1289H /1872G). It was built by one Omar Afandi Nassif. It was built of stones and contains four floors. It has an external decoration using colored tiles and lattice design of carpentry work of door and windows, as well as frescoes and ornamented. Each floor is composed of large and small rooms. This house is considered as unique style of architecture in that time.
Al-Ula
Al-Ula town is located in the north-western part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between Al-Madina and Tabuk. Al-Ulah in the past was known as (Dydan). It is one of the biggest old urban areas located on the main trade route. Al-Ula acted as a crossroad between the civilizations of India and the south of the Arabian Peninsula and civilizations of Sham (Syria), Egypt and Iraq in the north since the old time until the first century B.C. Legend has it that the sun of this town vanished when Anbatt conquered the north of the Arabian Peninsula and Al-Ula fell to ruins as conquerors took Al Hajar town as their second capital. Here, there are a number of tombs built and engraved in different engineering shapes such as Dydan, Muaieni, Lehyania, Thomodiah and Nabtiah decorations. Also there is debris of ruined dam nearby with length of 750 meter. One of the Islamic archaeological sites in Al-Ula is the fortress on the top of Al Musa Hill named after the famous Leader Musa Bin Naseer.
Old Eimarah Palace in Al-Ras
It is located in the middle of Al-Ras Province and it was constructed for over more than one hundred years. It was made of mud and adobes with palm tree and Othel wood for roof. Late King Abdulaziz visited this palace and spent many days following the event of Al-Sublah in the year 1348H (1929G). One may see a few decorative samples in the sitting-rooms, Arabian Majlis, in the palace.
Al-A'asda Village
Al-A'asda village is located on the mountain face on a low height – an area of 250x500 meters. It passes from the north to south and could be reached via Mokhwaha road – from Mecca. The village consists of many houses that are built of one to many rooms, in addition to the wide spaces and yards. The houses were constructed with stones without using the mortar. The thickness of their walls varies from 60 – 110cm. In the middle of the village there is a huge palace, whose length is 20 x 20 meter and it is still in good shape. Its outside wall is supported by 12 pillars in order to give it strong support. The site has two cemeteries – the first one is 50 meter away in the north of the village with an area of 100x200 meters. Some calligraphic writings in the simple Kofi style are found on some graves that belonged to the early Islamic era. The second cemetery is 150 meters away in the north of the first cemetery – with an area of 170x80 meter. One may see calligraphic signs written in the embroiled Kofi writing on some graves that belonged to the 13th and 14th Hejiri Centuries.
Eimarah Palace in Najran
The traditional architecture in Najran region is distinguished by the mud houses and palaces that are considered as the best sample of the traditional architecture in the world. An example for this unique architectural style is the Eimarah Palace in "Aba Saud" reflecting the beauty of the architecture in the area. Eimarah Palace was constructed in the year 1361H (1942G) during the time of Prince Turki Bin Mohammed Al-Madhi. It is used as the office for the governorate and accommodation for the Governor and his family as well as his guards.
The thick walls of the palace were built of mud with narrow doors and high windows for keeping moderate temperature throughout the year as well as facilitating the defense process. The roofs were covered by palm tree branches coated with mud. There are rooms sixty rooms in it – most of these were used as government offices and private office for the Governor. The place is surrounded by high walls and supported with circle-shaped towers in the four corners. The date of construction of the well supplying water to the palace belongs to the period prior to Islam, as at the bottom of the well inside its precincts is a proof as it was built with the red material, a style abandoned in the post Islamic period.
Eieiraif Fortress
It is the oldest archaeological building in Hail. Its strategic location is on the top of a hill and it is represented as the oldest traditional buildings in Hail – that makes it an important landmark for the city.
Souk Al Majlis (Divan Heritage Souk)
Souk Al Majlis, an old heritage market place, has received the award of “Urban Heritage Preservation” from His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz. Souk Al Majlis or the Divan Heritage Souk is one of the components of the old town Al Maznab. It lies seven kilometers from the urban center of the city. This location is well known as Al Derah district. Al Maznab Township itself is located to the south-east of Al Qaseem Province, between longitude 44.00, 45.00 and latitude 25.30, 26.00, as one of the key townships in the Province of Al Qaseem.
The area of the town is about 2 square kilometers. It contains more than 384 houses of various sizes while the old Divan Souk and the Masque of Bahla Palace are forming the starting point for the district and its main center.
Architectural Fabric: The town consists of a number of districts divided across through a number of interlaced roads and passages. While the town takes the shape of a strip indenting towards north direction due to a number of natural factors.
Old Souk: The old souk is located in the center of the town along the main road which is asphalted. The Old Souk is repetitively witnessing many summer events, monthly auctions, folklore presentations and similar regalia.
Kaf in Al-Jouf
Kaff, means a fortified castle on the coast of Syria by Yagout Caf, near Al-Jaballah area and it belonged to some one called Ibn Omaro in the era of Firinjah. Kaf village is located on the latitude 28 -31 and longitude 30 – 37. It was the area-base in the region until the year 1357H (1938G).
An English traveler called Blunt had visited this village and he wrote, “Kaf village is small and friendly with distinct properties that can be noticed by anybody visiting Syria. It consisted of 16 square small houses and towers with walls that are seven feet high.” This feature gives a unique appearance to the area.
Al-Sa'airi Hill
On the top of this hill there are remains of a water pool fenced by a wall which was repaired during the era of Al-Sha'allan and it has a portal of black stone. A small statue of copper of a sheep was found in the village (Al-Eiqaillah) towards the north. Still there are some war remains in the area covered with sand. In Al-Eiqaillah there are underground passages that bring water from an unknown source.
Um Al-Ajras Village
It is located in the west of Al-Eiqaillah near Al-Ajras hill. The reason for this name, Um Al-Jaras (village of bells) was the presence of ringing bells at the top of the mountain, when there was a danger, the bells would be made to ring. At the top, there is a room made of black stones, inside which there is a stone image of a bull’s head.
Al-Hadeetha
It is an old village near by a port in the east. There are remains of walls made of stones and underground passages. Also there are two wells clad with stones and the diameter of each one is one meter – with some channels are built with black stones. In the east of this village on the Hassirah valley in Rashrariyah, there is what may be the ruins of an old palace and a stone bridge interrupting the valley. Several round shaped carvings are found on the edges of surrounding hills.