polis: a collective blog about cities worldwide

Doors of Zanzibar

by Anna Fogel



Recently in Zanzibar, I was struck by the architecture of Stone Town — especially the ornate wooden doors.



These doors reflect the broad range of architectural influences on Stone Town, featuring ornate Indian rosettes, Koranic verses, East African patterns and many other fascinating elements.



The doors stand out against the buildings’ generally plain walls, and even serve as a memorable symbol for Zanzibar.

Credits: Photos by Anna Fogel.