The Old Town of Mombasa, also known as Mji Wa Kale, is the old part of Mombasa, the main city of Mombasa County in Kenya. Situated on the south-east side of Mombasa Island, the Old Town covers an area of 72 hectares (180 acres), and is inhabited by a mix of Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian, Asian, Portuguese and British settlers.[1] Old Town is a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Due to its heritage, It is a major tourist attraction in Kenya with a large part of its economy dependent on tourism-related activities.
Buildings in the Old Town are mostly Swahili, however, the many other ones are influenced by Mombasa's trade culture and foreign occupation, with many examples of colonial Portuguese styles from the 16th century and modern Islamic architecture.[3][4] The heart of Old Town mostly consists of a maze of narrow alleys lined by houses, shops, mosques and bazaars. Traditional buildings have long balustrades. Another key feature of most buildings are the finely decorated wooden doors with rich carvings, bas-reliefs and brass studs of Indian tradition. Stone benches dot most of the buildings which are used as barazas for men to relax and socialise.
MombasaInfo (2009a), Old Town, MombasaInfo, archived from the original on 17 March 2016, retrieved 4 April 2009
MombasaInfo (2009b), Fort Jesus, MombasaInfo, archived from the original on 14 April 2009, retrieved 4 April 2009
Planetware (2011), The Old Town Description, Richmond Hill, Ontario: PlanetWare, inc., retrieved 24 January 2011
UNESCO (2011a), "Mombasa Old Town", World Heritage Convention, United Nations: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, retrieved 24 January 2011
UNESCO (2011b), "Fort Jesus", World Heritage Convention, United Nations: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, retrieved 24 January 2011
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