HEAVY JESUS
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Ochre and pink citadel, built to protect the port of Mombasa at the time against the repeated incursions of the Ottomans
This huge ochre and pink citadel overlooking the old city was built between 1593 and 1596 by the Portuguese to protect the port of Mombasa at the time from repeated Ottoman incursions. Designed by the Italian architect Joao Batista Cairato, Fort Jesus is one of the most remarkable examples of Portuguese military fortification. It is arranged around a large, perfectly preserved central courtyard with a bastion at each corner, two facing the sea and two facing the city. The ruins of a barracks, a well, a cistern, a powder magazine, a private quarter and a chapel are still clearly visible. The fort, very well preserved and considered indestructible, was nevertheless damaged on several occasions, notably during the terrible siege of 1696, which lasted nearly three years. However, it has retained its original shape and materials: coral stone and lime are still used in traditional construction. Fort Jesus has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2011. Access to the fortifications remains the main attraction of the site, but you can also discover a museum, built between 1960 and 1962, which houses a rich collection of porcelain and ceramics found on the coast, as well as various Swahili handicrafts. You will also see the remains of the Portuguese frigate Santo Antonio de Tanna, which sank in front of the port in 1697. Fort Jesus is the most visited tourist attraction in Mombasa.
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