{"id":228956,"date":"2023-03-23T14:27:54","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T19:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/traveltriangle.com\/blog\/?p=228956"},"modified":"2024-10-20T13:15:32","modified_gmt":"2024-10-20T07:45:32","slug":"fort-jesus-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traveltriangle.com\/blog\/fort-jesus-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Jesus Museum Guide: A Walk Through The History Of Kenya!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fort Jesus in Kenya, is a fortress built by the Portuguese during the late 16th century in Old Town of Mombasa. The present-day museum was used as a defensive block and protected the Portuguese of the Eastern Coast of Kenya. The fort served as a barrack for the Portuguese soldiers and later when the British protectorate was proclaimed, it was converted into a prison. This fort now a significant historical landmark in Kenya managed by the National Museums Association of Kenya. The museum is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
\nFort Jesus Museum<\/strong> is symbolic of the history of the town of Mombasa and one of the most visited tourist attraction site in Kenya. It is one of the best-preserved evidence of outstanding military fortification during the 16th century. The fort is spread across an area of 2.36 hectares and includes a moat and the surrounding areas.<\/em><\/p>\n

About Fort Jesus Museum<\/h2>\n
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Image Source<\/a><\/p>\n

If you are wondering Fort Jesus was built in which century? It was built during the latter part of the 16th century, (1539 \u2013 1596) by Portuguese soldiers. The town of Mombasa used to be the trade center and gateway to India at that time, thus the fort was built to protect the town from any outside influences. The fort in the present day is one of the most visited places in Kenya.<\/p>\n

The fort stands on the coastline of Mombasa and speaks of the historical times when the Portuguese used to rule the trading routes of the Indian Ocean. The location of the fortress was such that, it enabled the soldiers to see any ships that approached the harbor. The fort also tells the story of a quite gruesome past, when the slaves under the Portuguese rules were tortured and perished from hunger as well as diseases. During those times, the slaves were shipped to the Persian Gulf and Arabia through the port of Mombasa.<\/p>\n

The 16th century was the time when cultural, commercial and political forces were budding and the Portuguese deigned it important to build a fort in the region. Fort Jesus was following Italian architecture styles and you can see significant Renaissance styled architecture in the fort.<\/p>\n

Once the Portuguese started establishing themselves in the Fort, it became a subject of battles. The fort was captured and recaptured many times, changing hands between many rulers including the Omani Arabs from 1698 to 1895, which then went under British control and was then transformed into a prison. The slaves of the country were held in the torture rooms and cells in the Fort\u2019s prison. The castle also had cannons built to protect it from invaders. Once again when the Portuguese recaptured the fort, it was refurbished many times.<\/p>\n

In 1858 the area became a national park and later in 2011, the fort was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is marked as one of the prolific structures belonging to the 16th century.<\/p>\n

Must Read:<\/strong> The Ultimate Honeymoon In Kenya Guide You Need<\/a><\/p>\n

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