This is a cannon at Fort Jesus, a 16th-Century fort built by the Portuguese on the shores of the city. Located in Old Town Mombasa, Fort Jesus is a beautiful area to explore - visitors can see much of the original structure, including massive towers, walls, and dramatic arches. Looking out over the ocean, visitors have sweeping views of the pristine blue, as well as of the city. As the Portuguese expanded their trading routes into the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, they built Fort Jesus as one of many defensive posts from which to protect this growing enterprise. It continues to be a spectacular Mombasa landmark.