Rustaq Fort, Oman

Rustaq was the former capital of Oman for 150 years, first as the  Ya'arubi imams base from 1624 and then the early part of the Al Bu Said dynasty from 1744,   

Rustaq Fort is said to date from c600 before the Islamic era in Oman, and was built by the Persian governor.   A second fort was built c1250 and when the Ya'arubi imam moved his capital here the fort was rebuilt in c1650.  This was the period when first the Portuguese and then the Persians after a brief occupation of the Batinah coast, were evicted from Oman by the Omanis.  

Further towers were added to the fort in 1744 and as recently as 1906. The current restoration provides a very impressive feeling of an Omani fort in its heyday.