Muscat: Al Mirani Fort is an ideal location to visit during Eid al Fitr holiday. The fort has been restored to its old glory and visitors can soak in the panoramic view of Al Alam Palace, the Old City of Muscat and other fort towers from its heights. It also features a museum with ancient weapons and locally made pottery are displayed in its corridors.
Al Mirani Fort was built before the Portuguese came to Oman. In 1588, the Portuguese rebuilt the fort on the ruins of the old building and added cannon platforms, stores, a residence for the commander and a place for worship.
EID PROGRAMMES
During the Eid holidays, Al Mirani Fort will come alive with a diverse array of activities spanning from the 1st to the 4th day of Eid. Guests can immerse themselves in the rich cultural tapestry with performances by the Al Razha and Al Nana traditional bands, indulge in kid-friendly delights like face painting and henna artistry, savor delectable treats at the Halwa Station, explore artisanal creations at the Handicrafts Bazaar, groove to live music, and even try their hand at pottery in engaging workshops. With festivities commencing at 5 pm each day, there's something for everyone to enjoy, all free of charge except for the pottery workshop.
Meanwhile, Muttrah Fort will be a hub of excitement throughout the Eid period, offering a vibrant celebration spanning all four days. Revelers can delight in traditional dance performances, delight their children with a plethora of activities, engage in friendly competition with board games, tantalize their taste buds with live cooking demonstrations of authentic cuisine, catch a movie screening, and browse the bustling Eid Bazaar.
HISTORY
The fort was expanded and brought to its current size during the reign of Imam Ahmed bin Saeed, the founder of the Busaidi dynasty, in the eighteenth century and his grandson, Sayyid Saeed bin Sultan, at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
The Portuguese built a shipyard and a stronghold at sea level at the base of the Mirani Rock in 1610 and provided it with a low-level cannon battery to prevent an attack from boats sailing near the shore below the level of the cannons in Al Mirani Fort.
Some sources attribute its name to the Portuguese word Almirante meaning (Admiral), which in turn was taken from the Arabic term Prince of the Seas. Therefore, it can be said that it is “the castle of the Prince of the Seas.” It was also called the Captain’s Fort in reference to the commander Dom João de Lisboa. While the Portuguese also called it the Commander’s Fort because it contained the headquarters of the garrison commander, it was also said that it was named Al Mirani after one of the Persian commanders who occupied Muscat in 1737. This fort was built on the heels of an old fort built by Dom João de Lisboa, one of the commanders of the King of Portugal who was sent in 1522 to strengthen the fortifications of Muscat in response to the threats of the Ottoman forces.
The construction of the Mirani Fort began until it was demolished in the raids launched by the Ottoman fleet while it was rebuilt again shortly before 1588, according to the founding text found in one of the fort's entrances. This fort was built opposite Al Jalali Fort in its western part, on top of a rocky hill, so that it could tighten the defensive grip towards the north. Due to its high height on top of the rocky hill, an upper tower was added to it towards the north, in order to prevent small boats from passing near the fort because it was below the level of the firing line. This fort received great attention from the Ya’ariba rulers through successive periods until the era of Late Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
The fort consists of four defensive towers. It is surrounded by a group of walls of irregular height, with a group of platforms opened for observation, interspersed with a number of rooms. In the eastern part, there is also a mosque. In front of it on the northern side is a cannon platform that has now been removed. The fort contained two entrances, the first on the northern side and the second in the southeastern corner of the fort, which represented its main entrance.
This fort received the care of the Ya'ariba dynasty after the expulsion of the Portuguese from it during the reign of Imam Sultan bin Saif.
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