BEIT IL MTONI
This palace, built by the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Seyyid Said, was the most impressive palace on the island.
This palace was built between 1828 and 1834 by the first Sultan of Zanzibar, Seyyid Said, when he left Muscat, the Omani capital, to settle in Zanzibar. The name of Mtoni given to this residence is that of a small river that rises in the interior of the island and was used to form basins before flowing into the sea. This palace was the most impressive palace on the island, according to the fascinating account of Princess Salmé in her memoirs, one of the many daughters of this sultan who lived here with his dozens of concubines, his only official wife and hundreds of children. More than 1,000 people lived here, including hundreds of slaves serving the royal court. Her description of it is idyllic in her memoirs, from which we have taken the best extracts. Today it is unfortunately in a very bad state of repair, which is a real shame. We advise you to take the local guide, as the stones do not speak for themselves and there is no information on site. Only a few walls are still standing, but a good imagination allows to realize the life of the sultans of the time, between multiple rooms, patio and baths. The mosque is still in good condition and used by the villagers, but it cannot be visited. You can simply walk around the ruins before having a drink at the nearby Mtoni Marine Hotel which has a nice beach for a swim before or after the visit.
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