History of Mombasa
Mombasa is a city located in the Eastern coastline of Kenya. The Mombasa name was derived from Arabic name Mombasa meaning the Island of war due to several ownership changes. The history of Mombasa city shows that it has had a mixture of African, Portuguese, British and Persian influences that contributed to a tremendous rich culture found in the city to date.
Mombasa historic sites
Some of the best things about Mombasa are the historical sites that are found all over the city. Mombasa hosts well preserved historic sites in the world. Some of the incredible sites are described below;
Fort Jesus
Fort Jesus is one of the reasons people should visit Mombasa. It was built by Portuguese in 1593 by the command of King Phillip II of Spain. This fort was designed by Giovanni Battista, the chief architect from Milanese in European style. The fort is located near the old town of Mombasa. No visit to Mombasa is complete without a visit to Fort Jesus. The fort is the most popular tourist attraction in Mombasa.
The fort was used a prison by the British during the colonization period. Later it was converted to a historical monument.The Fort Jesus Museum was built to exhibit findings from archaeological excavations at Manda, Gede, Fort Jesus and from other historic sites. The museum was also used to display valuable objects that were donated by people like Mrs. White and Mrs. Marchant.
The fort was also used as a Centre to transit slaves and other commodities. The interior of the Museum still comprises the torture rooms and prison cells that were used during the slave trade. The way the Fort preserves its history is incredible as the weapons that were used to defend the fort from the invading foreigners can be seen well preserved outside the fort.
Mombasa Tusks
Mombasa Tusks are some of the oldest and most well-preserved historic sites in Mombasa built to celebrate the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the city. The Mombasa Tusks draws visitors from all over the world to experience such marvelous symbolic representation of the heart of Mombasa city. The tusks are one of the most known monuments in the city. They gained popularity due to their global exposure all over the globe on post cards and pictures.
The tasks look more like elephant ivory that is why they are the most attractive site for photography by locals and foreign visitors.
Gede ruins
This was a town in the 13th to 17th century that was inhabited by the Swahili people and ruled by a wealthy Sultan. The town was entirely built from rocks and stones. The ruins are incredibly beautiful during sunset. Gede ruin is a great historic destination in itself. The ruins are incredibly well preserved that one can still see the original foundations. Today the ruins are designated as a national museum by the Kenyan law that makes this site worth a visit.
Bombolulu workshops
The Bombolulu workshops are one of the main reasons why people visit Mombasa. These workshops are located along the North Coast of Mombasa. This site is as a result of an Association for the Physically Disabled in Kenya that was founded in 1969.Due to its richness in the culture it has been one of the major tourist attraction in Mombasa. The workshops are run by physically challenged craftsmen and women who produce a variety of goods such as wood carvings, jewelry, hand-printed textiles and many more.
Hindu temples
The Hindu temple defines the Mombasa’s cultural diversity. They are a hot spot for tourists as they are allowed to tour in the temples. The temples contain beautifully stone carvings of different religious beliefs displayed on the walls of the temples where they can be seen well.
