suudi arabistan' ın batısında, mekke' nin doğusunda bir şehir
Both Taif and Mecca were resorts of pilgrimage. Taif was more pleasantly situated than Mecca itself and the people of Taif had close trade relations with the people of Mecca.
On 17 July 1517 the Sharif of Mecca capitulated to the Ottoman Sultan Selim I. As a sign of this, he surrendered to him the keys of the Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina. As part of the Hejaz, Taif was also given over to Ottoman control.
The castle and military barracks in Taif were repaired by the Ottomans in 1843, a Hükümet Konagi – mansion for government business – was built in 1869, and a post office was established sometime later.
When driving to Jeddah from Taif non-Muslim travellers will have to use the non-Muslim Bypass to get around Mecca, this adds about 70 mi (110 km) to your trip.
