The Fort Jesus Museum Mombasa is the most visited tourist destination in Mombasa.
Designed by Italian architect Giovanni Battista Cairati and constructed by the Portuguese in 1593, the fort has stood the test of time. It was built in order to protect the Portuguese people who lived on Africa’s east coast. The fort has withstood many attacks and conflicts. It was even used as a prison for a short time. Today, the fort serves as both a museum and an important historical monument.
Today, visitors may tour some of Mombasa’s ancient structures, like Oman House, which was the Sultan’s home when he was governor of the East African coast, and learn more about the little island by visiting Fort Jesus, which is now a museum. Inside Fort Jesus is a display of artifacts from the excavations at Manda, the Gede ruins, Ungwana, and Fort Jesus. Other noteworthy places to go include;
- A 76-foot-deep well and a water cistern, which the Portuguese used to collect water. Many artifacts, ceramics, and pottery objects from the time when Mombasa was a significant trading hub can be seen while strolling through the museum.
- Kenyan teenagers are taught traditional Swahili arts and crafts at the Swahili Cultural Center. Additionally, business management training was provided to help the young people learn how to work for themselves.
- You may learn more about the biodiversity of butterflies in Mombasa and their relationships to the local community by visiting the Butterfly exhibit, which opened recently and has a live butterfly exhibition.
