It is the Tarout Castle, situated northwest of al-Dirah district on Tarout Hill, at the heart of Tarout Island in al-Qatif, which is part of the Eastern Province. This castle is referenced in Portuguese historical documents. Following the collapse of the Mamluk state in Egypt, the Levant, and Hejaz in 1516, and with the Portuguese gaining control over certain ports in the Arabian Gulf, they eventually arrived at Tarout and renovated the castle in 1544.
The castle consists of an irregularly shaped structure, closely resembling a triangle. Positioned at its corners are three towers: two of these towers are cylindrical, while the third takes on a conical form. Its design harmonizes with the natural topography of the hill upon which it was built. This style of construction, which aligns with the terrain, bears a resemblance to the Portuguese construction style evident in irregularly shaped Omani castles.
Related quizzes