Stone Town Zanzibar

The cultural heart of Zanzibar, Stone Town, was built by Arab and Indian merchants in the 19th century. Everywhere else on the island, houses are built using the traditional wattle and mud daub. Yet in Stone Town, the buildings are made from small blocks of coral limestone bound with a mixture of lime and laterite, a technique that enables the construction of multi-storey structures. Most have three floors, and are decorated with elaborately carved wooden doors and balconies, inspired by the carvings of Bombay. Read more