Stone town tour Zanzibar
Stone Town Zanzibar with Zanzibar Tour Day
Stone Town is the cultural core of the island and the old city area of Zanzibar, located on the western shore. The city got its name from the buildings made of stones and lime stone which has created the uniqueness of the town.
Some of the houses are in a bad shape and the Stone Town Conservation Authority co-ordinates the restorations of houses to maintain the town to its original glory. The city still retained its old style from the 19th century, when Zanzibar was an important trading center in the Indian Ocean. It is a town of bazaars, mosques and narrow alleys Stone Town is a World Heritage Site.
Stone Town has got its name from the flamboyant houses built with lime stone and Stones by Arab traders through labor of slaves during the 19th Century. It is estimated that around 600,000 slaves were sold through Zanzibar between 1830-1863. In 1863 a treaty was signed to abolish the slave trade, agreed to by the British and the Omani Sultans that ruled Zanzibar at this time. Stone Town was also an important base used by many European explorers including David Livingstone, Johann Rebmann, Krapf and many others
The House of Wonders is the largest and tallest building in Stone Town and was once the most modern building in East Africa. It blends European style with Zanzibari tradition and features elaborate door carvings, lavish marble floors and mangrove ceilings. Getting lost in the narrow, winding street of Stone Town is pretty easy, and sometimes part of the fun. Leave the GPS at home and let the streets of Stone Town lead you to unexpected assets.
Visits
- The old slave market
- Discover the origin of Swahili
- Explore the historical sites
- Visit the spice and fruit market
