Why is Stone Town famous? (10+ reasons)
Stone Town is a must-visit when traveling to the beautiful island of Zanzibar. If it’s your first time visiting Zanzibar you may wonder why stone town is famous.
Stone Town is famous for many reasons. As the oldest town in Zanzibar, it’s rich in history and a vibrant culture. The architecture, historical landmarks, Zanzibar doors, narrow streets, cuisine, markets, and rich culture appeal to many visitors.
This is only a quick summary of what makes Stone Town famous. Below we’ll dive deeper into why the old town is so famous and why it’s a must-visit.
Let’s dive into it!
Brief history of Stone Town
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, Stone Town has gained popularity among travelers for its authenticity.
Stone Town started as a fishing town known as Shangani. It then developed into a trading center in the 10th century among the Swahili towns of Mombasa, Lamu, and Mogadishu among others.
The town thrived as a trading hub in the Indian Ocean trade in the 19th century. Its most popular commodities were spices (most importantly cloves) and slaves.
The spice trade gave the island its nickname the Spice Island which still stands to date. The slave trade market in Stone Town was the last open slave market in the world until its abolition in 1873.
Over the years, different parties controlled Stone Town, including the Omanis, British, and Sultans of Zanzibar. In 1964, Zanzibar gained its independence and merged with Tanganyika now Tanzania as a semi-autonomous state with Stone Town as its capital.
10+ reasons why Stone Town is Famous
1. The old Buildings
The oldest buildings in the heart of the town are built using coral stones giving the walls a rough and unique texture. This unique building material gave the town its name Stone Town.
2. narrow streets & the town’s architecture
Stone town has very narrow streets which look like a maze from above. This design was intentional as the tall buildings would provide shade in the alleyways.
In addition, the narrow streets were designed to keep the cool breeze from the ocean in the town longer. As a tropical island, Zanzibar can get quite hot, this unique architecture keeps the town’s alleys cool.
3. Historical Landmarks
As the oldest town in Zanzibar, Stone Town is rich in history. Well preserved in landmarks such as the old fort, Sultan’s Palace, Anglican Cathedral, Hamamni Persian Baths, Old Dispensary, St Joseph’s Cathedral, and Said Muhoud Mosque.
Each landmark has its own history and significance in shaping Stone Town and Zanzibar. Some of these landmarks date back to the 1699. Whether you are a history lover or not, stone town takes you back in time.
4. Last Slave Market in the world
Stone town slave market was the largest in East Africa and the last active one in the world. run by Arab and Indian traders until it was closed down in 1873 when Zanzibar was under the British.
Today, the Anglican Cathedral stands where the slave market once operated. Outside the church are monuments showcasing cells and pits where slaves were held.
5. Zanzibar Doors
The booming trade in Stone Town brought merchants from many parts of the world. The wealthy merchants showcased their status and architectural taste by building elaborate homes with intricately carved doors.
One architectural influence that stands out is the famous Zanzibar doors. These are big beautiful and hard to miss when walking the narrow streets. Zanzibar doors represent a fusion of Indian, Swahili, European, and Arabic influences in Stone Town.
Large spiked doors in India were used to protect homes from elephant invasion. With no elephants on the island, the spikes were useless. Zanzibar doors included distinct motifs and designs displaying wealth and for aesthetic purposes.
Common motifs include geometric patterns, floral patterns, Quranic inscriptions, and depictions of animals and mythical creatures. Each element holds symbolic meaning, ranging from protection and prosperity to cultural identity and religious beliefs.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal, Zanzibar doors are large and heavy, designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and keep intruders out.
Today, Zanzibar doors continue to fascinate visitors with their beauty and historical significance, acting as a tangible reminder of the island’s multicultural heritage and its enduring legacy as a crossroads of civilizations.
6. Spice market
Stone town thrived as a result of trade, particularly the spice trade. Today visitors can still buy spices from the vibrant Darajani Market alongside other souvenirs.
Spices sold in the market are locally grown in the spice farms. Visitors can also tour spice farms located outside the town area.
7. Freddie Mercury’s House
Another reason why Stone Town is famous is it’s the birthplace of one of the world’s greatest rock singers Freddie Mercury. Born in Zanzibar to Parsi-Indian parents, his childhood home in Stone Town is now a museum dedicated to the rock star.
8. Delicious Cuisine
Zanzibar generally has an amazing cuisine and is well known for its rich and fresh seafood dishes. The island has an adequate supply of seafood such as octopus, and squid, among others.
Stone Town is famous for the night food market open in the evenings at the Forodhani Gardens. Here you’ll find the famous Zanzibar pizza, skewers, and an endless supply of seafood.
9. Rich Culture
Zanzibar’s culture is a mix of Swahili, Persian, Arabic, Omani, European, and Indian cultures. This is evident in the architecture, spices, cuisines, traditions, and music.
Seeing or tasting familiar aspects in different parts of the world is always interesting. In most cases, you only find small differences made to fit what was available to the local communities.
10. Prison Island
Stone Town’s thriving slave market led to the construction of a prison on Changuu Island now Prison Island. This was built to hold rebellious slaves before they were sold off at the market.
Although constructed, the prison was never used and is now a sanctuary to giant tortoises and peacocks. Day tours from Stone Town are available.
11. Beautiful sunsets
Stone Town has beautiful sunsets to enjoy as you wind down the day. You can watch the sunset as you sip a cold drink in a rooftop cafe or by the popular pier where local kids jump into the ocean near Forodhani Gardens.
Why is Stone Town famous: FAQ
Stone Town gained its name from the coral stones used in building the houses in the old town. When taking a tour take note of the walls at the heart of Stone Town.
All houses were built using coral stones, they were built close together with narrow alleys. The tall buildings provided shade and the cool breeze from the ocean flowing through the alleys kept the town cool.
Stone town is also known as Mji Mkongwe which is Swahili for Old Town.
The oldest building in Stone Town is the old fort, built in 1699 by the Portugues.
The main religion in Stone Town Zanzibar is Islam. It’s important to adhere to customs such as dress code when visiting the town.
Stone Town of Zanzibar is the oldest town on the island rich in history and culture thus making it a top tourist destination and a must-visit when in Zanzibar.
