Nizwa Souq 2009

The Friday market of the Nizwa souq attracts hundreds of visitors each week. The livestock market, where sellers parade their animals in a circle in front of potential buyers . . . and many tourists!

The Friday market is an old tradition in may communities with families coming to the regional center to sell livestock, handcrafts and farm produce before Friday prayers. The Friday market is an attraction of many of the cities in Oman though the Nizwa market is spectacular.

In addition to the livestock market, there is fresh and smoked fish, freshly butchered mutton, chickens and a very large building reserved for fresh produce. The market now includes several shops with items for tourists.

Hidden in the complex of the new market building is the last remaining section of the original souq, the area sometimes referred to as the spice souq. Here merchants sell their produces much as has been done for hundreds of years.

The livestock souq is a very popular attraction	The souq is now covered	Goats and cattle were on sale the morning of our visit	A film crew and dozens of tourists joined the buyers and sellers
The Friday market is a feature in most central communities	Sellers parade their livestock before buyers	Date palm spathes (male pollen) and spring onions	The crowded market
Fresh smoked tuna	The fish mongers	Well in the spice souq	Part of the old covered souq
Many of the shops in the old souq are closed	Merchandise piled in the narrow corridors	The variety of merchandise is amazing	One of the original doors leading to the old souq
The souq gates are closed to secure the merchandise	Inscription on the old gate	Detail	The old tree where the men congregate to sell rifles
Dozens of rifles, ammunition belts are for sale	One of the old ammunition belts for sale	One seller estimated the cartridges to be 50 years old