Stone Town
Stone Town is the cultural heart of Zanzibar and little has changed in the last 200 years.
The narrow streets and winding alleyways are lined with grand houses
as the original Arab owners vied with each other for the most
extravagant. Over 500 examples of handiwork are reflected in the
brass-studded, carved wooden doors. The majority of homes in Stone Town
were built in the 19th C when Zanzibar was one of the most important
Swahili trading towns in the Indian Ocean. The trading activity between
Asia and Africa is evident by the architecture and urban structure of
Stone Town.
As the world's oldest functioning Swahili city,
many of the landmarks in Stone Town are being restored to their original
glory. Coral was used in most of the buildings but has easily eroded
leaving most of the houses in a poor state of repair.
A walk along
Creek Road takes visitors to the original Stone Town area and the
location of the Central Darajani Market, Beit el-Amani, City Hall and
the Anglican Cathedral.
While visiting Stone Town, tourists can
enjoy 'Spice Tours' which take them on a tour of plantations, sights of
historical interest and to some of the ruins. On the tours, tourists can
sample many spices, herbs and fruits that are produced on the island
and see what they look like growing wild. These include cloves, nutmeg,
cinnamon, black pepper, vanilla, breadfruit and lemongrass.
Forodhani Gardens
Forodhani Gardens are formal gardens and a popular meeting spot for
local residents and tourists. Once the location of the port's customs
shed, Forodhani Gardens is perfect for an evening stroll and provides a
chance to sample some local delicacies. Vendors serve grilled octopus,
goat meat, samosas and other snacks.Adjacent to
Forodhani Gardens is the Zanzibar Orphanage, previously used an English
Club and an Indian School. The next building served as the British
Consulate from 1841 to 1874. If the tide is low enough, visitors can
pass down the side of the consulate building and on to the beach to view
the splendid houses
Ruins
Mbweni Ruins, located south of Stone Town, are perfect for bird and
nature lovers. A 19th C mission station used the site as a settlement
for freed slaves. A nature trail passes more than 650 plant species and
150 varieties of palm trees from around the world. The ruins of St
Mary's School for Girls, built in the 1870s, is located within a lush
garden. The St Mary's School educated the daughters of freed slaves and
girls who were released from the slave dhows.Sultan
Said Barghash constructed the Maruhubi Palace between 1880 and 1882 to
house his harem. In 1889, a large fire destroyed the palace and it fell
into ruin. Some of remains include two bathhouses, stone pillars and an
overhead aqueduct.Sultan Seyyid Said built Mtoni
Palace at his chosen location. As his permanent residence, it had
balconies on the exterior, a garden courtyard, a mosque and an
observation turret. Today only a few walls remain of this once palatial
structure.
Old Dispensary
The Old Dispensary was built in 1887 by Thaira Thopen, a prominent
business man in Zanzibar at the time. Its construction was originally
commissioned to commemorate Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee. The
foundation stone of the "Tharia Topan Jubilee Hospital" was laid in July
1885, but Sir Thopen died in 1891, causing an interruption in the
construction. In 1900, the Old Dispensary was bought by the estate of
Nasser Nur Mahomed and divided into apartments, which were used until
the revolution in 1964. The decorative carved wooden balconies and four
stories stand out as the building is restored to its former glory.During
colonial times, the Old Dispensary gained its name because it housed a
dispensary on the ground floor, with a pharmacy and resident doctor.
Today the Old Dispensary houses boutiques, shops and galleries with work
by local artists.
People's Palace
Beit el-Sahel, also known as the People's Palace, was the home of the
sultans and their families from the 1880s until the revolution of 1964.In
1994 the Beit el-Sahel became a museum devoted to the sultans of
Zanzibar. The main floor features displays from 1828 to 1870 when
commercial treaties were signed with the US, Britain, France and the
Hanseatic Republics. One of the rooms in Beit el-Sahel is dedicated to
the Princess Salme who eloped with a German businessman and later wrote
her autobiography.Exhibits on the second floor
feature clothing, furniture including the Sultan's huge bed, and other
affluent items from the period of 1870 to 1896 when modern amenities
were introduced such as electricity. On the grounds of Beit el-Sahel is
the tomb of Sultan Seyyid Said and his two sons, Kaled and Barghash.
House of Wonders
Beit el-Ajaib is Zanzibar's tallest building, standing four stories
high. Built in 1883 for Sultan Barghash, Beit el-Ajaib was the first
building on the island to have electricity this gave it the name 'House
of Wonders'.In 1896 the British navy bombarded
Beit el-Ajaib in an effort to force Sultan Barghash to abdicate. Later
the building housed the headquarters of the Tanzania political party
CCM.Two Portugese cannons, from the 16th C,
guard the enormous carved doors while inside Beit el-Ajaib the
marble-floored rooms house the Museum of History and Culture. Exhibits
include dhow culture of the Indian Ocean, the struggle for independence,
Swahili civilization and displays on the history of the Swahili Coast.
Darajani Market
The Darajani Market opened in 1904 and still maintains the bustling and
colorful atmosphere. The market is a perfect spot to watch life in
Zanzibar as it has been for so many years. Residents buy and sell inside
the market with the most active time between 9 and 11 a.m.. The
gabled-roof structure houses a fruit, vegetable and meat market while
other goods such as jewelry, fabric and spices are sold in shops on
surrounding streets. An antique fair runs twice each week.Daranjani Market is located near the Anglican Cathedral courtyard, once home to the Great Slave Market that closed in 1873.
Hamamni Persian Baths
Sultan Barghash built the Hamamni Persian Baths in 1888 to be used as
public baths. A special team brought in from Persia built the Hamamni
Baths. Hamamni means, "place of the baths" and is now the name of the
neighborhood where the baths are located. Although they are no longer
functioning the baths have still retained their original grandeur. The
front rooms were used for changing, paying dues and socializing. A long
hall leads to the warm room that was heated by underground hot-water
aqueducts. The other rooms of the Hamamni Baths included hot and cold
baths, toilets and private shaving areas.
Old Fort
The Old Fort is also known as Arab Fort or Ngome Kongwe and is located
near Beit el-Ajaib. Built as a fortified structure in 1560, the Old Fort
is the oldest structure in Stone Town. Omani Arabs constructed the Old
Fort to defend against attacks by the Portugese. The remains of an old
Portugese church can be seen within the internal walls.During
the 19th C, it was used as a prison and later as a depot for the
railway. Today a partially renovated portion houses the Zanzibar
Cultural Center with an open-air theatre and art gallery. Traditional
dance and music are performed here several times each week.
Peace Memorial Museum
Beit el-Amani is housed in two buildings that are within one block of
each other. Just after World War I the Peace Memorial Museum served as a
memorial for those lost in that conflict. Now it serves as a museum
with many interesting artifacts including traditional crafts and
household items from residents of Zanzibar. Exhibits also include items
from the sultans, slave traders, European explorers and missionaries.
Displays in the domed main building feature David Livingstone's medical
chest, information about the harvesting of cloves and the story of the
battleship, the Konigsberg, which sunk during World War I.
Anglican Cathedral
The Anglican Cathedral, built in 1887, is located on the site of the
old slave market. It was built to commemorate the end of the slave
trade. The high altar of the cathedral was constructed on the location
of the whipping post.The stained-glass windows
in the Anglican Cathedral are dedicated to David Livingstone who played a
major role in the abolition of the slave trade. The wooden crucifix was
carved from the tree under which Livingstone was buried in Chitambo.Take a trip up the stairs of the tower for a tremendous view of Stone Town.
Livingstone House
Livingstone's House was built in 1860 for Sultan Majid. It became a
base for missionaries and explorers before they headed to the mainland.
It is remembered as the place where David Livingstone stayed in 1866
before his last expedition. Since this time, the Livingstone House has
served as a laboratory researching clove production, a resting place for
invalids and was used for religious meetings by the Ithnaasheri Khoja
Community. Currently it is the home of the Zanzibar Tourist Board.The living quarters are not open to tourists.
St Joseph's Catholic Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral was designed by the same architect who designed
the Notre Dame Basilica at Marseilles, France. French missionaries built
St Joseph's between 1893 and 1898. A summary of the mission's history
is posted inside the entrance. The twin spires of St Joseph can be seen
from any elevated point in town and it is one of the first sights that
travelers see when the ferry arrives in Zanzibar.The cathedral is still well used and mass is said regularly.
0 comments:
Post a Comment