The defining features of the waterfront are the ragstone ramparts of Ngome Kongwe, the Old Fort. It was the first defensive structure built by the Busaidi Omani Arabs when they seized the island from the Portuguese in 1698, and did duty as a prison and place of execution until the British transformed it into a ladies tennis club in 1949. Nowadays, the open-air amphitheatre provides a dramatic screening venue for the International Film Festival, while restored rooms house offices for the Zanzibar Cultural Centre.
In the courtyard local artists sell their crafts, and there’s a helpful tourist information desk that arranges tours and has schedules for performances.
