St. Joseph's Cathedral, Zanzibar

St. Joseph's Cathedral is a Catholic church in Stone Town featuring twin spires that rise above the old city and showcasing Romanesque elements such as pointed arches and columns. The building blends European architectural traditions with its African location in a distinctive way.

French missionaries constructed this building between 1893 and 1898, drawing inspiration from the Cathedral of Marseille for its design. The construction took place during a period when Zanzibar was undergoing significant political change and religious institutions were expanding.

The interior walls display Old Testament scenes in frescoes, while French stained glass windows filter light through the sacred space. These imported artworks shape how visitors experience the religious interior today.

The building sits at the heart of Stone Town and is easily reached on foot from any part of the old city. The church welcomes regular visitors and worshippers, so it helps to check service times if you want to explore the interior without disruption.

The structure was built using imported French tiles and materials shipped from Europe, which was an unusual and expensive undertaking for that era. These details reveal how deeply European influence reached the island and how colonial history remains visible in the architecture today.

Location: Zanzibar City

Inception: 1898

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

Part of: Stone Town

GPS coordinates: -6.16279,39.18880

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:01