Block 338
Located in the heart of Adliya, Block 338 is a charming pedestrian quarte crammed with international restaurants, art galleries and small boutiques. As Bahrain’s hot dining district, Block 338 offers a wide range of restaurants appealing to all ages and tastes, be it for a fancy meal, traditional Bahraini dish or just a soothing drink.
In addition to this distinguished eating experience, Block 338 boasts a number of good retail opportunities tucked into its side streets and has grown over the years into a vibrant space for the arts. It is here that Al Riwaq Gallery exhibits the works of emerging artists from Bahrain and the region intercepted by exhibitions by international artists. Its cool little café is a also a popular attraction.
Other nearby places of interest: Al Bareh Gallery can be found in the opposite corner of Adliya. A notable private arts center, it hosts exhibitions by leading regional artists. A diverse program of exhibitions runs throughout the year in the airy art gallery while an adjoining space is devoted to a not-for-profit initiative, ABCAD. Devoted to experimentation, ABCAD breaks art out of its human confines through workshops, design-focused film nights and an outdoor graffiti wall. There is also a café with outdoor and indoor seating.
The Qal'at al-Bahrain (Arabic: قلعة البحرين; Portuguese: Forte de Barém), also known as the Bahrain Fort or Portuguese Fort, is an archaeological site located in Bahrain. Archaeological excavations carried out since 1954 have unearthed antiquities from an artificial mound of 12 m (39 ft) height containing seven stratified layers, created by various occupants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Kassites, Greeks, Portuguese and Persians. It was once the capital of the Dilmun civilization and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The fort and the tell Qal'at al-Bahrain is built on, are located on the Bahrain island, on the northern seashore. On a clear day it is also seen from Saar. It stands like a "sentinel" near Manama, the capital of Bahrain; it is 6 km (4 mi) away from Manama on the fertile north coast. The tell is the largest in the Persian Gulf region and was built close to the port and by reclamation of seashore land. The archaeological findings, which are unearthed in the fort,reveal much about the history of the country. The area is thought to have been occupied for about 5000 years and contains a valuable insight into the Copper and Bronze Ages of Bahrain.
