Celebrated around the world for their beauty, beaches, and history the romantic islands of Zanzibar, Stone Town is the old city and cultural center of Zanzibar, which rose to prominence in the 17th century. Stone Town is jam-packed with historical architecture and a rich
ethnic culture and in the towns narrow streets, every sight, every
glance conjures up the romantic past.
Celebrated
around the world for their beauty, beaches, and history the romantic
islands of Zanzibar are under the influence of arabs especially one of
the most attractive in Stone Town one of the island biggest
attractions. Stone Town is the old city and cultural center of
Zanzibar, which rose to prominence in the 17th century. the haunting
history of stone town is enough to make you shiver, the old slave
castle and market are reminders of what the island was most famous for.
David Livingstone used Stone Town as his base for preparing for his
final expedition in 1866. Stone town is characterized by meandering
alleys and noisy bazaars and is one of the few intact historical
Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa. Stone Town consists of
approximately 2,500 buildings all made of coral stone, lime and clay,
including 45 mosques, 2 christian churches and 4 hindu halls. Since
Stone Town was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, several
buildings have been renovated and restored by the duly appointed Stone
Town conservation authority.
Stone Town is jam-packed with historical architecture and a rich
ethnic culture and in the towns narrow streets, every sight, every
glance conjures up the romantic pasthowever, for most visitors Zanzibar
is about the sea, the corals, and the dolphins. While visiting the
islands you should schedule for the fascinating walk through Stone Town
that is rewarding. The contrast in Zanzibar between the main town area,
Stone Town and the tourist venues on the islands are startling. As you
walk through the town, please remember that stone town is very much a
real community, where real people live and work. Narrow alleyways,
intricately carved doors and ornate balconies is what makes Stone Town
a popular destination in Zanzibar. You will lose your bearings here for
sure, but getting lost in Stone Town is normal, fun and harmless. Key
attractions in stone town include the old dispensary, Livingstone’s
house, the peace memorial museum, the palace museum, the Arab fort and
the house of wonders (which translates from its local name, Beit el
Jaib). Beyond Stone Town clad in spice gardens are silver sandy beaches
bejeweled by superb resorts.
The port area of Stone Town has one or two good wreck dives. I would
suggest maybe two day dives in and around stone town and then move to
the beaches and islands for the more exciting diving experiences.
