This fortress, built in the 16th century, is considered the main sight on the island.
Located on a mound in the center of the island southeast of the Fish round-about, it is a semi-elliptical, irregularly shaped castle with an outer wall reinforced by four conical towers, two of which are still preserved on the west side. Unfortunately, its condition is heavily in need of restoration and so it is more worthwhile to explore the surrounding area with its winding streets and traditional houses in more detail.
Between the fortress and the larger mosque at Fish Roundabout is a tiny, picturesque mosque still in use, the Masjid al Ain (‘Mosque at the Spring’). Nice graffito, following the small driveway, one passes the (newer) Sheikh Ali Mosque and reaches one of the old residential areas on the island, with partly very narrow, dark alleyways leading to the houses.
A detour to the Dareen Heritage Museum in the Dareen district not far from the southern corniche might be of interest to you. Set in an original home with a cozy atrium, this museum is one of the many private “vintage” collections of everyday objects that have sprung up and are emerging across the country, be they old radios, kitchen and household utensils, clothes, and other miscellaneous collectibles. It also includes a red Chevrolet pickup truck from the 1950s or 1960s parked in front of the property.
Some time ago, the local government replaced the fish market on the island, which no longer met modern requirements, with a new one located on a man-made small island, accessible by an access road on a causeway that also leaves from the road junction to Tarout Island.
