Mombasa Old Town
Place in Mombasa County, Kenya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Old Town of Mombasa, also known as Mji Wa Kale, is the old part of Mombasa, the main city of Mombasa County in Kenya. Situated on the south-east side of Mombasa Island, the Old Town covers an area of 72 hectares (180 acres), and is inhabited by a mix of Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian, Asian, Portuguese and British settlers.[1]
Old Town of Mombasa | |
|---|---|
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  Old Town of Mombasa Old Town of Mombasa | |
| Coordinates: 4°3′32″S 39°40′35″E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Mombasa County |
| Constituency | Mvita Constituency |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
In 1997, the Old Town and Fort Jesus were submitted by the National Museums of Kenya for selection in UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.[1][2]
Geography
The area is located to the east of Mombasa Island, adjacent to Tudor Creek.
Architecture
Buildings in the Old Town are mostly Swahili, however, the many other ones are influenced by Mombasa's trade culture and foreign occupation, with many examples of colonial Portuguese styles from the 16th century and modern Islamic architecture.[3][4]
Attractions
Fort Jesus
The Portuguese Fort Jesus is located in the Old Town, and is Mombasa's most popular tourist attraction.[5]
