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Built in 1761, Qasr Al Hosn is the city’s oldest building. Former home to the Al Nahayan family, rulers of Abu Dhabi without interruption from the 18th century until today, it was used as the seat of governance until 1966.

The main entrance to the fort is decorated with elegant Portuguese-style tile work that is typical of tiles found in the Islamic world. The large wooden door has a smaller door that was for daily use. It is embedded with protective black iron spikes.

The several towers were once used to protect the palace. The most impressive is the round tower with the blue dome.

The simple yet pretty (and underutilized) palace gardens are spread across several courtyards and are shaded by date palm trees. With their trickling fountains, during the cool weather, they make a wonderful place to rest and write a postcard.

The elegant palace interior has long light-filled corridors from which all the traditional high-ceilinged rooms are accessible. It will soon be opened to the public.

The interior is much as it was with intricately carved wooden doors, mashrabiya screens and old painted decorations featuring beautiful flowers and peacocks.

The functional, concrete Cultural Foundation has an elegant colonnade designed to catch the breeze. The Islamic tiles are worth noting.

Displays on musical instruments and history, regular performances of various arts and skills, exhibitions and thematic displays are held here.

Delma Café is a pleasant place for fresh juices, sandwiches and sweets. You just might bump into an Iraqi composer or a Syrian poet here.

The wonderful live handicrafts displays outside Delma Café provide a rare opportunity to see Emirati women practicing their traditional crafts, such as basket weaving, saddu (textile weaving) and talli (embroidery). You can also buy the items.