Fort Jesus

Fort Jesus is a fort on the island of Mombasa. It was built between 1593 and 1596 by order of King Felipe II of Castille, who also reigned as King Filipe I of Portugal and the Algarves, to secure the Old Port of Mombasa. It was designed by Italian Giovanni Battista Cairati. Fort Jesus was the Portuguese's only fort on the Swahili coast, and it is regarded as the first successful attempt by a Western nation to acquire influence over the Indian Ocean trade.

Cairato, the fort's designer, was influenced by Italian architect Pietro Cataneo, and Gaspar Rodrigues was the master builder. Cairato's final overseas project was the fort. Although Fort Jesus was designed in the Renaissance style, the masonry techniques, building materials, and labor are thought to have been contributed by the indigenous Swahili people. The fort was constructed in the shape of a man (as seen from above) and is roughly square, with four bulwarks at its corners. The fort is regarded as a late Renaissance military fortification masterpiece.

Fort Jesus was designated a national park in 1958, and it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 as one of the most outstanding and well-preserved examples of 16th-century Portuguese military fortifications. The fort is the most popular tourist destination in Mombasa. In addition to serving as a tourist attraction, the Fort houses various research projects, a Conservation Lab, an Education Department, and an Old Town Conservation Office.

Location: Mombasa, Kenya