Stone Town of Zanzibar

© UNESCO/J. Jafferji

The Stone Town of Zanzibar is a great example of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa and is one of the most significant port cities of the Swahili culture. During several centuries a tremendous commercial maritime activity has bound Asia to Africa, while the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture mixing Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements made Stone Town also unique. It has flourished as a spice trading center in the 19th century when the city was the capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate.

Stone Town has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

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flag United Republic of Tanzania
Capital: Dodoma City
Region: Africa

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