Salwa Palace, Royal residence in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Salwa Palace is a royal residence in Diriyah composed of seven separate building units featuring triangular windows and traditional mud brick construction. The different sections connect through passages and courtyards, forming an extensive residential complex.
The palace served as the administrative center of the first Saudi state beginning in 1744, housing royal councils and government offices. Its role as a seat of power ended in 1818 when political changes took place.
The palace displays building methods from this region, with courtyards and walls showing how people constructed their homes in earlier times.
The site is largely accessible on foot, with a museum documenting the history and the palace itself. Plan several hours to explore the complex and the buildings around it.
Certain rooms within the palace functioned as the first treasury of the Saudi state, where financial resources and religious contributions were managed. These chambers reveal how early governments organized their funds.
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