Mombasa - Fort Jesus

Built in 1593 by the Portugese, Fort Jesus is Mombasa's greatest tourist attraction. Designed by the Italian architect, Cairati, the structure represents an Italian fortress from the 16th C. Built in the shape of a man, the fort was given the name of Jesus as a clear religious reference. The fort changed hands nine times between 1631 and 1875 before finally resting in the hands of the British. The bastions were needed to shield the nearby Mombasa beach and carry the cannons that covered the approach from the sea. In the 17th C, the Sultan of Oman controlled Fort Jesus and adjustments were made such as raising the walls. The 18th C saw turrets added. Although partially ruined, Fort Jesus houses a museum built over the former barracks for the garrison. Exhibits include a vast collection of ceramics and pottery that reflect the various cultures that traded along the coast. Other displays include the Portugese frigate, Santo António de Tanná, which sank off Fort Jesus during a siege in 1698 and some anthropological evidence related to coastal tribes. Some relics from the ship were recovered and provide a glimpse of that period.

Fort Jesus has many battlements and ruined buildings within the compound including Omani house, built in the late 18th C and housing Omani jewelry as well as displays on Swahili life. The Passage of Arches is a passage that was cut through the coral to give access to the sea.