Vasco da Gama Pillar Lighthouse
Location & Light Range
About Vasco da Gama Pillar Lighthouse
A cylindrical stone tower standing 9 meters tall, the Vasco da Gama Pillar is painted white and topped with a stone cross. Constructed from coral stone in 1498, it marks the entrance to the Bay of Malindi in Kilifi County, Kenya. This structure likely served as a daybeacon and has probably been restored or rebuilt over time. The site is open to the public, though the tower itself is closed. It is located in Shella ward, near the port of Malindi.
Why it matters: This pillar is one of the oldest European monuments in Africa, commemorating Vasco da Gama's landing in 1498 and his subsequent voyage to India.
Tower & Structure
- Tower Height
- 9m
- Tower Shape
- cylindrical
- Tower Color
- white
- Material
- stone
Structure: round white solid coral stone tower topped by a stone cross
Location
- City
- Shella ward
- Country
- 🇰🇪Kenya
- Region
- Kilifi County
- Sea Region
- entrance to the Bay of Malindi
- Latitude
- -3.2237°
- Longitude
- 40.1300°
References & Identifiers
- Nearest Port
- Malindi(0.9 km)
Nearby Ports
Construction & History
- Year Built
- 1498
Significant events: Vasco da Gama landed in Malindi and hired a guide for voyage to India, built as a daybeacon, probably restored or rebuilt several times
Visiting
- Open to public
- Site open, tower closed
Nearby Vessels
اعثر على منارة Vasco da Gama Pillar على الخريطة البحرية المباشرة
خطّط رحلاتك قرب Kenya، وشاهد السفن المجاورة في الوقت الفعلي، واستكشف أكثر من 14,900 معلَم ملاحي في التطبيق.