Fort Jesus, Mombasa World Heritage Site

Official name

Fort Jesus, Mombasa | UNESCO

Country

Kenya | Map

Continent

Africa

Location

-4.6270° Lat, 39.6794° Lon | Map

Code

1295

Time Zone

Africa/Nairobi (EAT, +0300)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 2011. The Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596 to the designs of Giovanni Battista Cairati to protect the port of Mombasa, is one of the most outstanding and well preserved examples of 16th Portuguese military fortification and a landmark in the history of this type of construction. The Fort's layout and form reflected the Renaissance ideal that perfect proportions and geometric harmony are to be found in the human body. The property covers an area of 2.36 hectares and includes the fort's moat and immediate surroundings.