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Nizwa Fort and Castle
OmanOrder: 20
It is called Al-Shahba, and is distinguished by its large circular shape. The castle was built on rocky ground in Nizwa in the Al-Aqr quarter located in the centre of the city near the market and the mosque. The building, which consists of a fort, a castle and an extension, was expanded, reaching a height of 14 metres. It was then covered with a strong, stable floor on which platforms were placed, from which 23 cannons fire.

It is called Al-Shahba, and is distinguished by its large circular shape. The castle was built on rocky ground in Nizwa, in the Al-Aqr quarter located in the center of the city near the market and the mosque.

The building, which consists of a castle, a fort, and an addition, was expanded, reaching a height of 14 meters. It was then covered with a strong, stable floor upon which platforms were placed from which 23 cannons fire. The castle contains a number of wells, storerooms for provisions and others for ammunition and weapons, and a prison, in addition to ambush features such as drop-holes, gates, and pits

The original fortification of the castle was built in the ninth century CE during the era of Imam Al-Salt bin Malik, while some attribute it to pre-Islamic times. The building was renovated and modernized by Imam Sultan bin Saif Al-Yaarubi in the year 1624 CE. Then Imam Sultan bin Saif Al-Yaarubi, from 1649 CE to 1668 CE, added a circular tower equipped with cannons, with a diameter of up to 40 meters and a height of up to 30 meters.

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