Blog 9 - Fort Faiqain and Nizwa

Faiqain and Nizwa

After extensively exploring this region on our previous trips to Oman, today we are visiting some new places and making a short detour to Nizwa. This city is a must-visit on any Oman tour.

First, we head to the small village of Faiqain. In the midst of the 300-year-old town center, which has been left to decay, with its typical clay houses, the architecturally interesting fort was practically rebuilt from scratch using traditional craftsmanship techniques starting in 1991.The original building, with its unusual small footprint but impressive height and two slender, angular towers, was built in two phases in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Our next destination provides a complete contrast - the "Oman Across Ages" Museum. This futuristic building looks like an alien spaceship in the middle of the desert. The "New National Museum" project in Oman, which began in 2014 based on ideas from Sultan Qaboos and was designed by Cox Architecture/UK, was originally scheduled to open in 2021. However, the exact opening date is currently unknown, and it is only vaguely mentioned as "sometime in 2022..."

Passing the modern "Sultan Qaboos Mosque" with its four unusual square minarets, we then enter Nizwa. This city is known for its impressive fort, the crafts souk, and the livestock market that takes place every Friday morning. Nizwa is definitely worth a visit.

Faiqain and Nizwa

We have already visited this region twice on our previous tours of Oman, so this time we focused on discovering a few new landmarks.

Our first stop was the village of Faiqain. In the center of the abandoned 300-year-old ruins, we found the fort, which has been reconstructed since 1991. The original unique building was built in two phases in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Our next stop takes us to the future: the "Oman across the Ages" Museum. This project, initiated by Sultan Qaboos, started in 2014, but it is still not finished, even though it was supposed to be opened in 2021.

Passing by the modern Sultan Qaboos Mosque, we finally visit Nizwa. This city is famous for its large fort, the handicraft souk, and the animal market that takes place every Friday morning.