A trip to Aseer wouldn’t be complete visiting Al Maqar Palace, one of region’s most lauded heritage palaces.
As well as being one man’s compelling labour of love that took decades to build, this gem has a remarkable sky-high location with the awe-inspiring Sarawat Mountains as a backdrop. While touring the peaceful gardens and courtyards, visitors can enjoy the most magnificent views, as well as the refreshing cooler climate Aseer is renowned for.
The four-storey Al Maqar Palace, a top tourist site in Al Namas, is a magnet for archaeology and design enthusiasts. Some of the palace’s standout features include the way the sun’s path can be traced throughout the day through its countless windows and the seven domes that symbolise the world’s continents.
The column-filled palace (there are enough to cover the number of days in a year) is also made of over 2 million stones sourced from the region. And then there are the stunning, colourful interiors that include thousands of Islamic motifs and walls displaying a plethora of decorative elements from the Umayyad, Ottoman, and Abbasid civilisations.
Andalusian-inspired, Al Maqar Palace is a must-visit for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Muslim faith as it’s home to over 1,000 special and rare handwritten Holy Qur'an manuscripts and a jaw-dropping amount of artifacts, antiques, and other ancient scrolls that touch on Islamic heritage. These include manuscripts on various sciences like medicine, astronomy, and mathematics.
And with each floor dedicated to a specific era, it’s easy for visitors to concentrate on what they’re most interested in. Whether it’s the original copy of Arabic Poems dating back to 731, an ancient stone carving, the Hall of Coins and Gemstones, or the Islamic botanical decorations, the items are a testament to Mohammed Al Maqar Al Shehri’s passion project to create a treasure trove of fascinating items from around the world.
Photographer: @osama_jabarti
Drone Operator: Muteb Almalki
Producer: @itskokopuff
Location Manager: @raaydsh
Camera Assistant: @faisa.51
Featuring: @rebeccaanneproctor
