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Fort Jesus
Built in 1593 by the
Portuguese, Fort Jesus is Mombasa's greatest tourist
attraction. Designed by the Italian architect, Cairati,
the structure represents an Italian fortress from the
16th C. Built in the shape of a man, the fort was given
the name of Jesus as a clear religious reference. The
fort changed hands nine times between 1631 and 1875
before finally resting in the hands of the British. The
bastions were needed to shield the nearby Mombasa beach
and carry the cannons that covered the approach from the
sea. In the 17th C, the Sultan of Oman controlled Fort
Jesus and adjustments were made such as raising the
walls. The 18th C saw turrets added.
Although partially ruined, Fort Jesus houses a museum
built over the
former barracks for the garrison. Exhibits include a
vast collection of ceramics and pottery that reflect the
various cultures that traded along the coast. Other
displays include the Portuguese frigate, Santo António de
Tanná, which sank off Fort Jesus during a siege in 1698
and some anthropological evidence related to coastal
tribes. Some relics from the ship were recovered and
provide a glimpse of that period.
Fort Jesus has many battlements and ruined buildings
within the compound including Omani house, built in the
late 18th C and housing Omani jewelry as well as
displays on Swahili life. The Passage of Arches is a
passage that was cut through the coral to give access to
the sea.
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CONTACT ADDRESS:
HEAD OFFICE DAR ES SALAAM.
ZANZIBAR HOTEL P.O. BOX 12594.
TEL/FAX: +255 22 2133793, Mobile:
+255 718 915949
ARUSHA BRANCH OFFICE. KALOLENI
AREA OPPOSITE , PRIMIEM HOUSE.
BOX 14477 ARUSHA, Mobile: +255
713 350 601, TEL. +255 754 398 815
info@bushroutes.com
or
reservations@bushroutes.com
14 June, 2010
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