Stone Town, or Cidade de Pedra, is the monumental northern half of Mozambique Island. This is where the former colonial administration, merchant houses, churches, and fortifications were concentrated, and the streets still carry the weight of that old capital.
Walk early or late, when the light catches the coral-stone walls and the heat is less punishing. Some buildings have been restored; others are roofless, patched, or half abandoned. The mix is part of the island's power, but it also makes clear how fragile the World Heritage site remains.