- Address: Stone Town, Sokoku street, House of Wonders
- Working hours: daily from 9:00 to 18:00, Sunday - closed
- Cost of the ticket: $ 3
Traveling through Zanzibar , do not miss the opportunity to visit its capital - the city of Stone Town , which contains the main attractions of the island . This small town is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. At every step you can find an interesting architectural object, but still the main attraction of Stone Town is the House of Wonders (House of Wonders).
History of the House
The house of miracles in Stone Town was built in 1183. The project was managed and the construction of an unknown architect, who according to some reports was a native of Scotland. Until 1964, the building was used as the residence of the Sultans of Zanzibar . But in the same year there was a historical event - Zanzibar united with the state of Tanganyika. Since then, the House of Wonders has been used exclusively as a museum of Stone Town.
Features of the building
The building, made in a tropical Victorian style, is the largest structure of the city. The Tower of the House of Wonders rises above the roofs of all other attractions of Stone Town. A special impression is made of its large copper doors, on the facade of which are quoted from the Koran.
The inhabitants of Stone Town called this architectural structure the House of Miracles, but in fact there is nothing supernatural in it. Simply this is the first building in which in the old days there were engineering communications, like: lighting systems, water supply, elevator. For indigenous people of equatorial Africa, the benefits of civilization were a real miracle, which prompted them to give the building such a name. Currently, the House of Wonders in Stone Town can hardly be called "wonderful" - the elevator has not worked for a long time, and the upper floors serve to store waste paper. Some of its rooms are in desolation, while others are used as a museum. Of all the exhibits of greatest interest are the old British cars and products of local artisans, including dhow boats.
If you go to the House of Wonders of Stone Town, it's only for the sake of climbing to its highest platform. From here you can admire the breathtaking views of the flowering Forodhani gardens, the ocean coast and the cozy palace square, which the locals use as picnic fields.
How to get there?
The house of miracles is located in the central historical part of the capital of Zanzibar - the city of Stone Town, therefore it will not be difficult to get to it. It is best to take a taxi, the trip costs an average of $ 3-5. You can also book a group excursion to get all the necessary information about this interesting building.
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