THE PINK TARHA
Museums are not just places for “old things”; they’re a place where the past and present collide to form a place for ideas to thrive and for truth and meanings to flourish. Venture out of Riyadh and step back in time through these museums in Taif and Abha known for their huge collection of artifact and distinct characteristics.
1. Fatima Museum of Home Decoration and Women’s Clothes in Abha
We took a risk when we decided to drop by the Fatima Museum of Home Decoration and Women’s Clothes last year. We did not know if it was open or if they were welcoming visitors already. We just went because from our online search, the museum building looked beautiful and its contents, unique. Ahhh, it was not only beautiful, it was also very well-organized, bright, and fragrant. This is a museum in Saudi Arabia you should not miss.
Fatima Museum of Home Decoration and Women’s Clothes is a dream project of Fatima Faye Al-Almaai, a renowned artist in the field of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri (also the mother of our artist on spotlight, Alaa, on page 30). This museum was born from her passion for the folk art. It was her lifelong dream to preserve the heritage of the Asir region. We had the honor of meeting her in the museum after we saw the over 300 pieces of clothing, jewelry, paintings, and carvings featured. The place is elegant as the woman who owns it. After a showing of a video explaining the Asiri art and its contribution to Saudi culture, Fatima took us to her workroom, where her art workshops are held, to show how each “ink” is derived from raw natural materials. Her art, with its various hues, inscriptions, and forms, is very traditional and nostalgic yet also fun and colorful. Fatima and Al Qatt Al Asiri are truly inspiring.
⏰ 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
🎟 SR 30
2. Tamniah Archaeological Museum in Asir Region
During our trip to the Asir region in December 2021, we went to Al Qaryah Village to see the Tamniah Archaeological Museum. We shrugged it off as another ordinary museum and didn’t expect much from it, especially when it looks small from the outside. This museum exceeded our expectations! It was floor after floor, room after room of artifacts and settings that showed the social life and livelihood of the Kingdom’s ancestors.
The Tamniah Archaeological Museum is owned by Abdul Hadi Ahmed Al Mahdi. The ground floor is where most of the collection of things are but once we went up the stairs, things turned really interesting. The museum is like a house that did not change with time. The house and halls are built according to the old heritage style of the Asir province and each room shows exactly how they looked like in the old days. It’s like being welcomed in the present but experiencing the past once you step into a room. Some rooms were very colorful like the huge living room. The bedroom had clothing and jewelry. The kitchen was filled with cooking pots, earthenware, water jugs, and utensils. The Tamnia Museum is a maze. We believe you can get lost in there and truly, travel back in time.
⏰ 8:00 AM -12:00 PM / 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🎟 SR 20
3. Al-Shareef Museum in Taif
Taif is a must-visit place in Saudi Arabia especially during summer. The cool weather and the blossoming of roses during the second quarter of the year makes Taif an ideal destination for all. This is the reason why we chose Taif as our first out-of-Riyadh trip when travel restrictions due to Covid-19 were eased in 2021. We wanted to get to know Taif and see one of its crowning glory: the privately-owned Al-Shareef Museum famous for being a one-stop-building for everything history, culture and tradition.
The Al-Shareef Museum has a collection of artifacts collected by the owner from his over 30 years of wandering the Kingdom. An hour was not enough to see and peruse everything in their glass displays, shelves, and racks. Our favorite part of the museum is the “marketplace” that depicts men and their crafts from decades ago. From carpenters to barbers to tailors, to food sellers and more, each industry is represented. We like the traditional folk costumes, tools, settings, and projects in each booth. The museum also has a space for vintage cars. We spent a few minutes taking a break in its lanai too. The mini fountain and the colored glass took out some of our tiredness from an afternoon of touring and we were back on the road in no time.
More on the museum from DQ Living’s archive:
⏰ 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
🎟 SR 20
Truly, Saudi Arabia has transformed time into space through their many museums scattered all over the Kingdom.
