JEDDAH, 6 February 2006 — The sand storm that blew through Jeddah two days ago has not stopped citizens nor visitors from roaming around the city. During the annual spring vacation which lasts for a week, the General Administration of Tourism, Culture and Museums in Jeddah Municipality has decided to open the historical buildings downtown to the public.
Sami Nawwar, general manager of the administration, said that the Al-Balad House, Naseef House, the Shafie Mosque and the Mameluke water system are open now to the public, free of charge, from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Those who want to get a sense of Jeddah’s history are advised to start at Al-Balad House on King Abdul Aziz Street downtown. Since the area to be covered is not large and the weather is pleasant, the easiest way to go from place to place is on foot. At Al-Balad House, a traditional Jeddah dwelling, there is a rare group of old pictures in the main room.
From there, walk to Gabel Street which is only a few minutes away then through the Al-Alawi Souk to reach the landmark Naseef House. The house was built and lived in by one of Jeddah’s oldest merchant families and is an excellent example of Hejazi architecture.
A few seconds from the house is the recently discovered water system, known as Ein Faraj Yousr, from the Mameluke Era. The trip ends at the Shafie Mosque built during the time of Caliph Omar in the very first days of Islamic history.
Though these are the official sites listed by the Tourist Administration, it is also very enjoyable to stroll around the area. There are plenty of old houses with their wooden lattice windows, spice-scented stalls, tiny alleys and numerous smiling faces — all genuine examples of traditional life which are perhaps not found in the newer — and perhaps more prestigious — areas of the city.
