Kilwa Kisiwani Attractions 
Kilwa Kisiwani has superior historical interest as one of the most famous trading posts in East Africa in its heyday. Founded at the end of the 10th C, Kilwa Kisiwani was settled by Shirazis and flourished as the core for the commercial trade of gold.
By the 13th C, Kilwa had become a powerful city and it dominated politics and trading along the Swahili coast. Wealth came from trading other items as well such as ivory, slaves, textiles, jewelry, porcelain and spices. The striking architecture was beautiful and well-constructed, leaving behind many exceptional ruins. The decline of the town began with the Portugese taking control of Kilwa Kisiwani in 1505 for the gold trade. In the 17th C, the Oman Arabs arrived to revive Kilwa and many of the buildings were taken over by the sultans as their palaces. This lasted until the middle of the 19th C when regional trade shifted to Kilwa Kivinje.
Now a World Heritage Site, Kilwa Kisiwani is being rehabilitated and becoming more accessible to visitors. Together with the nearby ruins of Songo Mnara, Kilwa is considered a significant glimpse of Swahili civilization.
Coral stone houses, palaces, a large domed mosque and the largest pre-European building in equatorial Africa, the Husuni Kubwa, are found within the fig and palm trees.
By the 13th C, Kilwa had become a powerful city and it dominated politics and trading along the Swahili coast. Wealth came from trading other items as well such as ivory, slaves, textiles, jewelry, porcelain and spices. The striking architecture was beautiful and well-constructed, leaving behind many exceptional ruins. The decline of the town began with the Portugese taking control of Kilwa Kisiwani in 1505 for the gold trade. In the 17th C, the Oman Arabs arrived to revive Kilwa and many of the buildings were taken over by the sultans as their palaces. This lasted until the middle of the 19th C when regional trade shifted to Kilwa Kivinje.
Now a World Heritage Site, Kilwa Kisiwani is being rehabilitated and becoming more accessible to visitors. Together with the nearby ruins of Songo Mnara, Kilwa is considered a significant glimpse of Swahili civilization.
Coral stone houses, palaces, a large domed mosque and the largest pre-European building in equatorial Africa, the Husuni Kubwa, are found within the fig and palm trees.
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Husuni Kubwa
The Husuni Kubwa grounds in Kilwa once served as the royal residence of Sultan Aal-Hasan ibn Sulaiman. The Palace grounds also include a servants quarter, a mosque and a smaller version of the main palace.
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Ruins
The Arabic Fort, Great Mosque, Great House, and Makutani Palace together form the Kilwa Kisiwani Ruins. The ruins, dating back to the 12th Century, depict the history and culture of Swahili Civilization.
