Riyadh, June 25, 2020, SPA -- Visiting Riyadh would take tourists to profoundly rooted in history ancient sites, ahead of them is Diriyah, founded in 1446, to overlook Wadi Hanifa valley, embracing magnificent features such as Bijairi historical district, Samhan and Turaif quarter, which has been dubbed as the Greatest Mud-built City, in the world. Turaif also is among the most towering tourist landmarks, westward of Riyadh. It is no more living only in the memory of the Saudi society, for its reputation is circulated also in the whole world, following being included on the UNESCO List of World Heritage, in 2010, joining other 5 Saudi sites, already on the list. It is a historical window for the tourists and visitors of Riyadh, to overlook into the antiquities of the 1st Saudi state and to be acquainted with its glories, in (virtual) reality that simulate what have taken place, at the past time of ancient Diriyah flourish, as the capital of the 1st Saudi State. Turaif quarter, in particular, was identified with the governance of the state, at the time, but nowadays it comprises an array of museums, giving a retrospective glimpses of the evolution and development of the 1st Saudi State, through artefacts, drawings, paintings and documentaries. In addition, there are the Arabian Horse museum, Wartime museum and Imam Mohammed bin Saud Mosque or the (Great Mosque), whereas the Imams were using to lead worshippers, during Jummah congregational prayers. Turaif is distinct with thousands square meters of green spaces and shadows of locally planted trees as well as exquisite palm trees, spreading all over the banks of the valley, paved with modern corridors and sideways for walking and strolling. To the opposite of Turaif, lies its twin quarter: Bijairi, which is historically linked to knowledge and considered as its seat, however, for the time being is busing with cafes, open parks, meanwhile it experiencing a restoration workshop progressing within a huge project to make Diriyah, once again, a bright and shining historical, cultural and tourist attracting spot, attracting comers, from all over the world. Overseeing the project to preserve Diriyah as the Icon of the Saudi history, is Diriyah Gate Development Authority, with a mandate to promote the site to receive visitors. It was founded in 2017 to shoulder various and several projects and tasks, but the most significant quantum leap or turning point for Diriyah Gate, was when inaugurated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in November 2019. -- SPA 21:57 LOCAL TIME 18:57 GMT 0025 www.spa.gov.sa/w1357786