Nizwa Fort and Souq

Nizwa was the capital of Oman in the sixth and seventh centuries of the Islamic era and remained the centre of the interior and of Ibadi scholarship, and its fort reflects that: built by Imam Sultan bin Saif in the 1650s around a drum tower forty metres across and thirty high, filled solid with earth and stone for most of its height so that it could absorb cannon fire, with the fighting platform on top. The approach to it runs through a defensive maze of doors, shafts and murder holes. Beside the fort the souq sells silver, khanjars, pottery, halwa and dates, and on Friday morning a livestock market runs at first light with goats and cattle paraded in a ring.

What you actually see

• The drum tower - the forty-metre round tower and its platform.
• The defensive approach - the shafts, doors and murder holes on the way up.
• The souq - silver, khanjars, pottery and dates in the restored market.
• The Friday goat market - the livestock ring at first light.

When to go

October to April; the interior is severely hot in summer. Friday very early for the livestock market, which is over by about eight. The fort keeps daytime hours and is busiest mid-morning.

Honest expectations

The souq is heavily restored and much of the silver is imported rather than Omani. The Friday market ends early and arriving at nine means missing it. Fort interpretation is modest. Tour groups fill the fort in the middle of the day.

Nearby

Birkat al Mouz lies east; Bahla and Jabrin are west.