Old Town is an area of Mombasa, Kenya. Situated on the south-east side of Mombasa Island, the Old Town covers an area of 72 ha, and is inhabited by a mix of Swahili, Arab, Asian, Portuguese and British settlers. In 1997, the Old Town and Fort Jesus were submitted by the National Museums of Kenya for selection in UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Geography

The area is located to the east of Mombasa Island, adjacent to Tudor Creek.

Architecture

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.

Attractions

Fort Jesus

The Portuguese Fort Jesus is located in the Old Town, and is Mombasa's most popular tourist attraction.

Footnotes

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