Fort Jesus Museum: Fort Jesus Museum a Kenyan tourism site which is one of the landmark of tourist attractions to adventure on Kenya Safaris. Despite the fact, Fort Jesus Museum is a UNESCO World Heritage site that was constructed by the Portuguese in late 1593 -1596 into a beautiful designs of Giovanni Battista Cairati in order to protect the port of Mombasa. In fact, this museum is one of the most outstanding and well preserved examples of 16th Portuguese military fortification and a fabulous in its history. More so, its layout and form reflects the Renaissance beauty that perfects proportions and geometric harmony which are said to be found in the human body.
Historically, Fort Jesus Museum was built in a region and at the same time were at the Centre of the emerging political, commercial as well as cultural globalization. Meanwhile, its beautiful structure looks to be old and having various traces of subsequent modifications, that bears significant witness to the interchange of culture values among peoples of African, Arab, Turkish, Persian and European origin. More so, it was built and occupied first by the Portuguese and when time went on, the site and its history began to change many times throughout its history to the coming of the Arab, Swahili and English control. Ideally, it was a great role in the control of trade through hosting many of the people of the Indian Ocean. More then, its original lay out, despite many changes which has survived almost unchanged over centuries of continued occupations and reoccupations.
What makes it one of the best visited site on Kenya safaris; However, Fort Jesus Museum’s boundaries of the property have been presented to include the underwater archaeological that remains in the expanses of sea in front of fort Jesus and the moat area that extends to Mombasa Old Town. Therefore, the Minor changes inside the Fort bear witness to its outstanding history through not threatening its integrity. Well-the building is in good conditions and there is no development encroachment in its immediate locality. Mere say, Mombasa Old Town is integral to Fort Jesus’ historic context and acts as the buffer zone of the Fort.
Furthermore, the site was built and designed with unique materials of coral stone and lime mortal which are still in use till today as a traditional way, used for repair and conservation work. However, it has kept its authenticity of setting location, otherwise unbuilt property along the coast of Mombasa Island adjacent to the Mombasa Old Town which it shares astonishing history.
Legally, the Fort Jesus which was built in Mombasa in late centuries, later it was designated as a National Park in 1958 to protect the area as well as the Fort itself and a surrounding 100 meter. As we talk, in 2006 the site was introduced under the National Museum and Heritage Act. And the buffer zone was formally declared as a conservation Area. However, the similar of between other facts and the size of the designated conservation Area and the size of the buffer Zone has not been amended yet.
Size: Fort Jesus Museum covers an area of about 2.36 hectares including the fort’s moat and immediate surroundings.
Due to its vitally strategic positioning, fort Jesus has experienced a lot of turbulence, all this were lost nine times during various battles for the control of Kenya between 1631 and 1875 before finally resting with the British.
Attractions displayed inside the site; A visit to the fort offers a remarkable introduction to the history of Mombasa as well as the wars that occurred in place between the Muslim Arabs and the Christian Europeans to protect the area.
More then, to its great location in the region to be built was to protect safety to the Portuguese who used to live on the East coast of Africa.
On visit here, your likely to visit Mombasa Island and other attractive trades routes surrounding the site. Visiting the islands, you’re able to explore the beauty of the island and view of the historical structures that are still in existence including Oman House where the sultan ‘’govern of the East African Cost’’ used to stay.
You can visit water cistern which used by the Portuguese to harvest water rewardable view the nature as well as visiting a 76-foot-deep well that was sunk by the Arabs.
Visiting Fort Jesus Museum, you will be able to wonder through astonishing views of various artefacts, pottery and ceramics from the era by the time Mombasa was a stopping point for slave trade and commodities.
Visit the Mombasa Butterfly House which was recently opened to the public a live butterfly exhibits that present haven of a tropical butterflies in a natural environment. On visit here, you’re able to learn about the various number of butterflies and how it connected to local communities.
Visit the Swahili cultural Centre built in the museum at the fort which was created in 1993 as a training Centre to train Kenyan youth in the traditional Swahili crafts that enables the youth in the community to get skilled in what makes them to become self-employed.
Lastly, Fort Jesus was declared as national park in 1958 and become a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011 and was highlighted as one of the most incredible and well –preserved site of the historical example of 16th century Portuguese military fortifications. Get started now planning a visit to the most visited Mombasa tourist attractions where you will not never regret a visit you made on African Continent mainly to the heart of the Africa – Kenya Safari Destination which can be landed on through Jamo Kenyatta International Airport.
