Muscat

Muscat

Last half-day in Muscat, mainly dedicated to visiting the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the few open at certain times even to non-Muslims. In fact, it was not possible to visit it on the day of our arrival because it was Friday. Women must cover their shoulders, as well as their arms and legs, and wear a scarf on their heads, while men are required to wear long trousers. The style is simple, in line with the personality of the Sultan, who wanted to give it to the country to celebrate its 30th anniversary of government.

 The approach route Visiting the mosque immediately invites reflection. You pass through a garden area with tall trees, at the back of which you can see the main dome. As you get closer, the marble expanses appear, and you enter what is essentially an anteroom before exiting through another courtyard and finally finding yourself facing the true majesty of the place of worship. From inside the main dome, a chandelier Consisting of many small, illuminated minarets, even difficult to distinguish in the diffused light. The base is rug It is the second largest in the world (surpassed by a rather childish competition with the Mosque of Abu Dhabi, which I visited just a few days ago). Taking a tour allows you to appreciate its details, from The Quran scrolls neatly placed within the niches. on the side wall, near the valuable rock formations which form the ceiling of the mihrab, the niche located at the back indicating the direction towards Mecca. It is amazing and fascinating to be surrounded by... stylistic balance... which never falls into clichés or the overly pretentious aspects of certain buildings. Let's take another walk around, as we previously focused mainly on taking photos and videos; now we want to observe and experience the magic of the place, without relying on cameras. As we exit, we will go for a walk around, visiting... marble tiles serving as flooring, passing through the ablution area. Some clouds in the background and the sun that light up the place of worship They create an atmosphere that seems perfectly designed to highlight the building's true majesty. Here too, Qaboos' message resonates strongly, much like a distant and respectful interpretation of Islam, far removed from the fundamentalist tendencies of some of his members who, out of ignorance or ulterior motives, distort its meaning. green of the meadows (which is also the color of Islam) and the colorful garden colors They break the otherwise monotonous and austere marble atmosphere. We leave this place thinking of the Sultan, who departed from his country just over a month ago, with the hope that the same light and guidance will also accompany his successor. All that remains is to go and visit the Royal Opera House, ( photo 1– photo 2) in the Qurm district. In this case too, the Sultan wanted to build the building as he was a great admirer of classical music. The guided tour allows us to understand its history and present, all within a well-combined vision of wealth. It starts to get hot, but at this point we need to return to an winter context; the journey ends with this half-day dedicated to the religious and artistic aspects of Muscat, after having experienced the historical and naturalistic aspects in the central and northern parts of Oman.

Flight to Muscat

We return with the awareness that this trip, which had quite complex characteristics, has ended well: two countries, three rental cars, the flight to Abu Dhabi and the return from Dubai, the uncertainty due to driving on desert roads or steep mountain tracks. But Oman is a country that is both welcoming and reserved, to be visited with respect for its people, who seemed friendly but not intrusive, always present and available in case of need, rich without ostentation, organized but loving life and its pleasures. If I had to express everything with one adjective, the most suitable would probably be "balanced". This is also a lesson of life and a warning that we will take home from Oman! Perhaps one of the few souvenirs that cannot be bought at the souk, but that you absorb by visiting the country and understanding its soul.