Al Faihani Palace
Saudi Arabia · Asia
About
Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Al Faihani Palace, also known as the Al Faihani Palace, is an ancient palace adjacent to a fortress known as Darin Castle. It is located in the village of Darin on Tarout Island in Qatif Governorate in eastern Saudi Arabia. The castle was restored by Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Al Faihani between 1884 and 1885 and became known by his name.
The palace and its associated structures are situated at the center of the South Darin coastal arc. The complex encompasses several facilities and annexes, including a group of rooms, warehouses, and a backyard. The walls feature a series of arches, crafted in the style of the Abbasid Islamic architectural tradition. The total area of the complex is approximately 8,000 square meters, including the annexes. The palace and its associated structures are centrally located within the village of Darin, on a prominent elevation close to the sea. The site is in a location between Houta and the eastern district. The palace and its annexes are bordered to the south by a small mosque on a rocky outcrop that gradually slopes downwards until it reaches the sea, where the port of Darin is located. To the eastern extent is a residential area, while to the southeast is the Great Mosque of Darin. In the northern region is an open square, and to the west is an abandoned house. The hill on which the castle is situated represents the accumulation of sedimentary layers, each of which represents a different time period.
Darin Castle took on its historical value during the establishment of the first and second Saudi state, as well as during the era of the Ottoman Empire, but the palace annexes turned into rubble and piles of stones as a result of the collapse of the walls and their fall on each other, and only the foundations of the palace remained.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.