Tarout Castle, Portuguese heritage castle in Tarout Island, Saudi Arabia
Tarout Castle is a stone fortress positioned on a hilltop in the center of the island, distinguished by four conical towers and thick defensive walls surrounding its perimeter. The structure showcases Portuguese building techniques typical of its era.
Archaeological remains show that people occupied the site as far back as around 2300 BCE, with layers from multiple civilizations buried beneath the current fortress. The Portuguese later built their fortification on this historically layered ground.
The local name 'Castello' reflects the Portuguese maritime legacy that shaped the fortress's design and defensive layout. This naming tradition shows how deeply foreign influences became part of the island's identity.
The island connects to mainland Saudi Arabia via bridges, making it straightforward to visit. The site is positioned at a reasonable distance from urban centers and easy to reach by car.
The fortress, when viewed from above, takes on the shape of a crab, giving the structure an unexpected organic quality. Visitors rarely notice this resemblance unless they see an aerial perspective.
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