Stone Town of Zanzibar, Tanzania

The Stone Town of Zanzibar, a unique historical district with a lot of preserved buildings, is one of the most interesting historical sights in Tanzania. The unusual name of the historical district is due to a lot of stone buildings, the first of which were built at the beginning of the 19th century. At that time, Zanzibar was a large trading city. At the time of the reign of Said ibn Sultan, Zanzibar was proclaimed the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

For years the Stone Town remained the great center of the slave trade. Buildings of the old slave market can also be found today. In its place a beautiful Anglican cathedral was built, beside which one can see a few cages - once they contained people. The historic district is ideal for walks. Many old houses are now a location of interesting shops and restaurants. In addition, the Stone Town has several colourful markets. Lovers of cultural programs can admire local museums and beautiful mosques.

Among the historical sights one must mention the Palace of Beit al Ajaib, also known under the unofficial name 'House of Miracles'. Once this ceremonial palace was used for the most solemn events. It managed to retain some of the original decoration. The ancient Arab fort, built in the 18th century, is also worth seeing. In total, there are more than 1700 old buildings on the territory of the Stone Town of Zanzibar, most of which, unfortunately, are under the threat of complete destruction. To the beginning - Tassili Ajjer