www.womanthismonth.com 43 July-August 2015 11 Situated in the heart of Adliya’s famed Block 338 area, Al Riwaq Art Space is a non-profit gallery showcases the work of up-andcoming local artists and visiting big names. It also organises regular street art events. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.alriwaqartspace.com Call 17 717-441. 12 Slightly outside Block 338, Albareh Gallery houses an eclectic collection of local artists and also has regular travelling exhibitions, installations and events such as poetry readings. Opening hours 9.30am-2pm and 4-8pm Saturday to Thursday. www.albareh.com Call 17 717-707. 13 The discovery of the Barbar Temple by a Danish archaeological expedition in 1954 remains one of Bahrain’s most significant finds. The site actually consists of three temples, one on top of the other, with the oldest dating back to 3000BC – 500 years before the pyramids. 14 Beit Al Jasra is a traditionalstyle house from the early 20th century, restored in the 1980s using materials such as coral stones and palm trunks. The neighbouring Al Jasra Handicrafts Centre showcases pottery making, cloth weaving, wood working and basket weaving using traditional methods. Open daily 8am-2pm. www.moc.gov.bh Call 17 611-900. 15 This is part of a multi-purpose complex dedicated to the Islamic arts located in Hoora. Beit Al Quran was established in 1990 and is most famous for its Islamic museum, which houses a hugely important collection of Qur'anic manuscripts and Islamic art. The building itself is a work of art with script inscribed across its façade. Call 17 290-101. 16 Not just the First Oil Well in Bahrain but the first on the Arabian side of the Gulf, the well is situated below Jebel Dukhan and was first operational in October 1931. The neighbouring museum showcases the history of the oil industry in Bahrain for over a century with fascinating exhibits including drilling equipment, documents, old photographs and a working model of an oil rig. www.mofa.gov.bh Call 17 753-475. 17 Bahrain National Museum, the island's historical treasure trove was one of the first museums in the region when it was founded in 1988. The Dilmun-era collection, which includes a real burial mound, is a fascinating insight into life in the region up to 5,000 years ago. The neighbouring national theatre is an equally impressive building worthy of a visit. The museum is open daily from 8am-8pm. www.moc.gov.bh Call 17 298-718. 18 Qaisariya Souq is an area of old shops within Muharraq Souq which have been restored to their original condition with highly varnished woodwork and mashrabiya-patterned screens. The stores sell traditional wares from jewellery and swords to woodwork and artisan items. Opening times Saturday to Thursday 8am-1pm and 4-8pm. 19 The first of Bahrain’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Qal'at al-Bahrain, or Bahrain Fort, is an archaeological site where excavations have unearthed antiquities from an artificial mound created by various occupants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century. It is recognised as the capital of the ancient Dilmun civilisation. The current fort building also houses a museum with underground exhibits. Opening hours Tuesday-Sunday 8am-8pm. www.moc.gov.bh Call 17 567-170. 20 The Kingdom’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Pearling Trail is a 3.5km trail in Muharraq consisting of 17 restored houses which give an indication of life on the island when pearl diving was the main source of income. The traditional buildings include the home of the country’s ruler from 1869 to 1932, Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, as well as shops, the old newspaper office, merchant’s houses and more. The buildings are open daily throughout the year. as the Palm Association, Bahrain Red Crescent, Rotary and Bahrain Cancer Society which always need extra help. Tony the Dogfather 39 629-889. BSPCA 17 591231. MWPS 17 827-895. Palm Association 39 967-896. Bahrain Red Crescent 17 293-171. Rotary 17 740-146. Bahrain Cancer Society 17 233-080. 10 Bahrain was an ancient necropolis and is considered one of the largest graveyards in the world, with more than 170,000 mounds punctuating the landscape between Hamad Town and A’ali. Dating back to around 3000BC, some of the most impressive mounds can be found near A’ali village and are thought to contain the remains of the royal families of the ancient Dilmun civilisation.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==