| Old Dispensary | |
|---|---|
Ithnashiri Dispensary | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Old_dispensary_front,_Stone_Town.jpg) The Old Dispensary | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Tanzania_location_map.svg)  Old Dispensary Location within Tanzania | |
| General information | |
| Location | Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania |
| Coordinates | 6°09′30″S 39°11′33″E / 6.1584°S 39.1926°E |
| Construction started | 1887 |
| Completed | 1894 |
The Old Dispensary, also known as Ithnashiri Dispensary,[1] is a historical building in Stone Town, Zanzibar. It is located on the seafront, in Mizingani Road, halfway between the Palace Museum and the harbour. It owes its name to the fact that it served as a dispensary in the first half of the 20th century.
The Dispensary is one of the most finely decorated buildings of Stone Town and a symbol of the multi-cultural architecture and heritage of the city.[1][2] Its wooden carved balconies, with stained glass decorations, are of Indian influence; the main structure is built with traditional Zanzibari coral rag and limestone, but covered with stucco adornments of European neo-classical taste.[2] The inside of the building is just as sophisticated, with a covered courtyard and carved bridges connecting the floors.
The Dispensary is one of Stone Town's major tourist attractions. It has a small museum about the history of Zanzibar.[1]
- ^ a b c "Stone Town". Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- ^ a b Zanzibar Stone Town Projects: Conservation Works in the Former Old Dispensary, Aga Khan Trust for Culture