Description of the attraction
The name of one of the largest tropical Victorian buildings in Stonetown is Beit el-Ajaib, or House of Wonders. It was built by a Scottish naval engineer commissioned by Sultan Bargash in 1883. For some time the house served as the residence of the Sultan. But in 1896, the three-story building became the object of British bombing: the British did not want Sultan Khalid bin Bargash to take the throne after the death of Sultan Hamad (1893-1896) After the shortest war in the history of Zanzibar, which lasted only 45 minutes palace), the sultan chose to surrender to the British. When the building was renovated, the next sultan - Hamoud (1902 - 1911) - used the upper floor as his residence, and after 1913 the government of Zanzibar sat here. a large building throughout Zanzibar, but also the first building to have electricity, running water and even an elevator. Since the Zanzibar government has been meeting elsewhere, Beit El Ajaib has occasionally hosted exhibitions and parties, and has recently opened a luxury restaurant. Although on a commemorative plaque in front of the entrance it is written that someday this house will host a museum of the history of Zanzibar and the Swahili civilization …
