Манама, Бахрејн
Manama (in Arabic - Al-Manama) is the capital of Bahrain. The city is located in the northeastern part of the island of Bahrain, located on the Persian Gulf. This is the largest city in Bahrain, with a population of nearly 150,000, or about a quarter of the country's total population. The first known Islamic chronicles that mention Manama date back to 1345. It was conquered by the Portuguese in 1521, and the Persians took control of the city in 160. Until 1783, with minor interruptions, it was under the rule of the al-Khalifa dynasty. Manama was declared a free port, and in 1971 - the capital of an independent Bahrain. Today, the city has a typical modern Islamic atmosphere, with many modern buildings that were built thanks to the state's petro-dollars.
