Portuguese Chapel, Malinda

The Portuguese Chapel in Malindi is a small stone structure with a traditional altar and an attached burial ground. It stands on the Kenyan coast surrounded by tropical plants and the remains of what was once a colonial Portuguese settlement.

The chapel was built in 1502 by Portuguese settlers and served as the first Christian place of worship in East Africa. A significant religious figure visited in 1542, marking an important moment in the site's development as a spiritual center.

The chapel occupies a space that once belonged to a multicultural port community where Muslims and Christians coexisted during the trading era. Walking through the site today, you can sense this shared history in the remains and layout of the surroundings.

The site is accessible daily, though the drier months offer better conditions for walking through the grounds and exploring comfortably. It is helpful to visit with a local guide who can explain the history and point out important features you might otherwise miss.

The chapel often goes unnoticed by casual visitors compared to other attractions in Malindi, yet its role in early Christian history runs deeper. Those interested in how cultures met and coexisted on this coast will find quiet evidence of that encounter here.