Stone Town
Overview
Stone Town
is the cultural heart of the island and the old city area of Zanzibar City, located on the western shore. The city got its name from the many big multistory buildings made of stone that form the landscape of the old town part. These buildings are actually not made of stone, but mortar and corals. Although the corals were a good and easily available building material, they are also easily damageable. Some of the houses are in a bad shape and the Stone Town Conservation Authority coordinates the restorations of these houses to maintain the town’s original glory.
The city still retained its old style from the 19th century, when Zanzibar was an important trading center in the Indian Ocean. It is a town of large bazaars, mosques, winding and narrow alleys, and large Arab houses, with two cathedrals and over 50 mosques.