Visit Bahrain, an island nation in the Persian Gulf, as part of a study tour. Bahrain is covered by sand dunes and the Jabal ad-Duchan rises in the center. Visit the capital Manama with its attractions such as the Bahrain Financial Harbor, The World Trade Center and the numerous malls such as Al Ali, Seef Bahrain and Marina. Don’t forget the other cities like Muharraq with the street dam and the Bahrain International Airport; Madinat Hamad or Madinat Isa, a city in the central government of Bahrain. Enjoy this unforgettable round trip through Bahrain!
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain with an approximate population of 155,000 people. Around a quarter of the country’s population lives in big cities. Manama is located on the northeast tip of the island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. First mentioned in Islamic chronicles around 1345, Bahrain was conquered by the Portuguese (1521) and the Persians (1602). It has been ruled with brief interruptions by the ruling Āl Khalīfah dynasty since 1783. The city was declared a free port in 1958 and the capital of independent Bahrain in the 1970s.
For a long time an important trading center in the northern Persian Gulf, the region’s traditional economy was based on pearling, fishing, boat building and import trading. The port was poor and the large ocean ships had to anchor 3–5 kilometers off the coast. The discovery of petroleum in Bahrain in the 1930s revolutionized the economy and appearance of the city through the construction of many modern buildings and skyscrapers. The capital Manama developed into a flourishing commercial and financial center; many international banks have their headquarters here. There is also an up-and-coming textile industry that makes use of imported raw materials.
The country of Bahrain attracts a large number of tourists, immigrants and foreign influences, with just under a third of the population being from abroad. There are a number of bars and lively nightclubs that are particularly popular with short vacationers. In recent years, many modern holiday resorts and hotels as well as the valued fully air-conditioned malls have emerged in and around Manama. The best-known and largest shopping center is the “City Center Bahrain” brand outlet, which opened in 2008.
Qal at al-Bahrain fortress
The Qal’at al-Bahrain, also known as the Qal at al-Bahrain Fortress, is an archaeological site in Bahrain. Excavations that have been carried out since 1954 continue to this day. Because many secrets are still hidden underground. Bahrain has around 160,000 barrows, but the most famous is the fortress Qal at al-Bahrain, which was built in the 16th century under Portuguese rule. The eventful history that goes back to the 3rd millennium BC Can be seen in the rock formations of Qal at al-Bahrain.
The Dilmun culture lived on Bahrain in the 3rd millennium, where it built its capital with storage tanks, city walls and residential complexes. At that time there was also a natural harbor. The place was considered an economic center and trading center. From the 15th century BC Remains of a large Kassite palace still exist. Signs of Greek, Persian, Ottoman and Sassanid rule can also be found in this significant place. The last testimony that rises impressively from the landscape is the Bahrain fortress, which was built by the Portuguese.
The fortification was surrounded by a 12 meter high wall with a deep moat. A drawbridge was used to reach the interior, which reflected the mature Portuguese architecture and also linked many other cultural influences. In the palm forests around the fortress, the oasis economy flourished, which was primarily concerned with date cultivation. The fortress, which was protected with cannons, allowed the Portuguese to control numerous important sea trade routes in the Persian Gulf. The ruins of the fortress are now a popular sight in Manama City. At the former fort there is a small but worth seeing museum, which underpins the visit to the fortress with fascinating information.
