Fort Jesus is a historic fortress located in Mombasa, Kenya, built by the Portuguese in 1593 to protect their trade route to India. Designed by Italian architect Giovanni Battista Cairati, the fort is a striking example of 16th-century military architecture. Over the centuries, it changed hands between the Portuguese, Arabs, and British, reflecting the region’s rich and turbulent history. Today, Fort Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum, showcasing artifacts and telling the story of Mombasa’s cultural heritage.