Ruins of Gedi
Gedi ( Gede also ) is a ruined city on the east coast of Kenya, and is located about 16 kilometers south of Malindi.
From the 9th century originated on the east coast of Africa, a number of major trading cities that floated on the one hand with the countries on the Indian Ocean, on the other hand with the hinterland trade.
Gedi is located five kilometers from the sea and was therefore probably less involved in maritime trade. It was much smaller than Kilwa Kisiwani, yet it was a prosperous city. The ruins of the houses of coral are very well preserved and considered as a prime example of East African architecture. They were outside with a thick, coated inside with a thinner layer of plaster. The city was founded relatively late. The oldest remains are dated to the late 13th or early 14th century. The city experienced a golden age in the 15th century. Early 16th century when the Portuguese conquered the coastal cities, the city was temporarily abandoned. Oromo who were themselves attacked by Somali had penetrated to the south over Gedi addition, almost to Mombasa. You triggered a movement of flight. Many of the refugees came to Gedi, which experienced a further, short flowering time. Beginning of the 17th century, the city was finally abandoned. In the Oromo language Gedi means " precious ", according to European maps of the 17th century the place was called at that time Kilimani.
The city had surrounded the 15th century, an area of 20 hectares and was of a 2.5 meter high wall. Since 1948 have been the pioneer of the East African archeology at the coast, James Kirkman, a Friday mosque, a palace, several smaller mosques, 14 stone houses and a tomb, which dates by an inscription in the year 1399, excavated. The Mosque of the long channel had two pillars in the middle, the feigned a view of the mihrab. Other mosques had two roof domes pillars rows. The entrances to the prayer halls were on the longer side walls. The fountain for ritual ablutions was outside the mosque area, because he also served as the drinking water supply for the district.
From the 15th century it was customary to take in Chinese dishes as a decorative motif in the wall plaster. The houses were only einstockig in contrast to those of other coastal cities. The further settlement in the 16th century occurred within a lower wall in a smaller city.
The place is now a popular destination for tourists.