- Address: Lindi, Kilwa Masoko, Nangurukuru - Kilwa Road
- Sightseeing: the great Kilwa Mosque, the ruins of the Husuni Kubwa Palace, the Sultan's pool, the Geraza building
No wonder the African continent is called the cradle of mankind, it contains many secrets and still unknown secrets. And, by the way, few know that there are preserved ancient cities, for example, such as Kilva-Kisivani.
What kind of city?
In translation, Kilwa Kisivani means Great Kilwa, a little-known medieval city in the world founded by a Persian merchant and built in the distant past on the island of Kilwa in Tanzania . Territorially this place is in the Lindy area. For more than 35 years, since 1981, the ruins of the city are considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From the city are now visible only the remains and some well-preserved ruins, but once it was one of the largest shopping centers of the east coast of the mainland.
What to see in Kilwa Kisivani?
In the city-island of Kilva-Kisivani these days are available in good condition the following monuments of antiquity:
- The great Kilwa Mosque is one of the oldest mosques on the east coast of Africa, built of marvelous coral tiles in the 12th century (later the mosque was completed and rebuilt);
- remnants of the ancient palace of Husuni Kubwa from the coral limestone of Sultan Al Hassan, adorned with rich ornamentation and carvings;
- the Sultan's pool for 90,000 liters of water near the palace, in which, according to legends and chronicles, the sultan bathed with his horses;
- building Geraza, from Swahili in translation "prison", built on the ruins of an old Portuguese fortress;
- a city array with houses, streets, squares, cemeteries, etc. and other attractions.
At the present time, many years of archaeological excavations are continuing on the island, during which many objects of everyday life, jewelry and preserved goods were found, for which merchants came even from Asia.
How to get to Kilwa Kisivani?
Since practically the whole island is protected by UNESCO, the United Nations and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, you can get here on an excursion only from the official travel company from the nearest settlements: Dar es Salaam or the island of Zanzibar . Information about the guides can be obtained at the Tourist Board of the OR of Tanzania.
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