The Art Street

The Art Street is a pedestrian-friendly cultural street in Abha, in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia. People come to walk among local artwork, sit in a cafe and enjoy the shade of the jacaranda trees that line the way. It is open 24 hours a day and there is no minimum age, so families can come at whatever time suits them. As you walk, you will pass walls hung with paintings and photographs by artists from the region, along with around ten art galleries and a theatre that stages a range of shows and events. Local and international restaurants and cafes are dotted along the route, which makes it easy to pause between viewings. Literature lovers can use the library in the middle of the street, and a fountain and a carpet of flowers in the central square give you a pleasant spot to sit with a book. Colourful umbrellas are strung over the street, adding to the mood. The setting is much of the appeal. Summer is a particularly good time to visit, as the jacarandas come into purple bloom and activities are held on the street and in its theatres. The result is a place where art and nature share the same stretch of pavement, in the centre of Abha.