The Doors of Stone Town

Wandering down the narrow lanes of Stone Town in the late afternoon past coral houses and dimly lit shops might be the city's simplest pleasure. Many buildings date to the 19th century and their most striking feature is their ornate doors. Carved out of mahogany or teak, some Zanzibar doors are adorned with brass spikes, while others have intricate patterns, like vines or lotus flowers etched into them.