Tower sights in Africa
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Kenyetta Conference Centre
Towering over City Square, Nairobi's signature building the Kenyetta Conference Centre was designed as a fusion of modern and traditional African styles, though the distinctive saucer tower looks a little dated next to some of the city's flashier glass edifices.
Staff will accompany you up to the viewing platform and helipad on the roof for wonderful views over Nairobi. The sightline goes all the way to the suburbs, and on clear days you can see aircraft coming in to land over the Nairobi National Park. You're allowed to take photographs from the viewing level but not elsewhere in the building. Access may be restricted during events and conferences.
reviewed
-
B
Le Tour Hassan
Le Tour Hassan. Towering above the Oued Bou Regreg is Rabat's most famous landmark. This enormous minaret was begun by the Almohad sultan Yacoub al-Mansour in 1195 and was intended to reach 60m, making it the largest and highest in the Muslim world. However, the sultan's grand plans were thwarted by his death four years later, and the tower was never completed. Abandoned at 44m, the beautifully designed and intricately carved tower still lords over the remains of the adjacent mosque.
The mosque was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755, and today only a forest of shattered pillars testifies to the grandiosity of Al-Mansour's plans.
reviewed
-
C
Telkom Tower
Dominated by the 269m Telkom Tower, Hillbrow was once among the liveliest and most interesting suburbs in the city and was the nation’s first ‘Grey Area’ – a zone where blacks and whites could live side by side. These days, however, it also has a reputation for very real lawlessness and a trip into its guts, without an extremely savvy guide, is not recommended.
reviewed
-
D
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
The city's oldest church, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, has a striking bell tower, tiled roof and some traditional mudéjar (Islamic-style architecture) ceiling work. The present church was built in the 17th and 18th centuries but the original building went up in 1498, just after the island was conquered.
At the heart of the shimmering silver altar is the Santa Cruz de la Conquista (Holy Cross of the Conquest), which gives the city its name. Tradition has it that Alonso Fernández de Lugo, the Spanish commander, planted it in his camp to give thanks for his 1494 victory over the Guanches.
Check out the anteroom to the sacristy. The altarpiece in the chapel…
reviewed
-
E
Catedral de Santa Ana
The city's brooding, grey Catedral de Santa Ana was begun in the early 15th century, soon after the Spanish conquest, but took 350 years to complete. The neoclassical facade contrasts with the interior, which is a fine example of what some art historians have denominated Atlantic Gothic. The retable above the high altar comes from Catalunya (mainland Spain) and the exquisite lamp hanging before the altar was made in Genoa (Italy).
The cathedral also displays several paintings by Juan de Miranda, the islands' most respected 18th-century artist.
You can access the cathedral's tower if you fancy a stunning and wide-ranging view of the surrounds from the city to the coast.
reviewed
-
F
Cairo Tower
North of the Cairo Opera House and Ahly Stadium, the Cairo Tower is the city’s most famous landmark after the Pyramids. Resembling a 185m-high wickerwork tube, the tower was built in 1961 as a thumb to the nose at the Americans, who had given Nasser the money used for its construction to buy US arms. The 360-degree views from the top are clearest in the late morning, after the haze burns off, or late afternoon.
reviewed
-
Kasbah
Standing at the high point of the medina, the kasbah was built onto the city walls in the 11th century. It incorporates the imposing square Khalef tower, built by the Aghlabids in AD 859 at the same time as the city walls, which superseded the ribat as the city's watchtower. It's now a lighthouse.
Note that there is no entrance from inside the medina walls.
reviewed
-
Castillo del Tostón
Castillo del Tostón is not really a castle, more a Martello tower. There's a sight-and-sound exhibit, a display of arsenal and you can climb to the top for sweeping views of the surf beach with its bizarre clump of sculptures by French artist Kadir Attia.
reviewed
-
Plateforme du Sémaphore
Opening out at the end of a street is a wide grassy area where the provides an incredible vista over the estuary and across to Salé. The elevated position provided an excellent defence against seagoing attackers negotiating the sandbanks below.
reviewed
-
G
Clock Tower
Resembling a much younger cousin of London's Big Ben, a burnished metal clock tower forms a glimmering landmark towards the western end of ave Habib Bourguiba. It was erected to commemorate Independence Day (7 November).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
H
Torreon de Ventoso
The Torreon de Ventoso is one of the better-kept historic buildings. The tower once formed part of the town's Augustine convent and was used to keep watch over the port.
reviewed
-
I
Top of Africa
To view Jo’burg from on high, take the lift to the Top of Africa. The entrance is via a special lift one floor below street level.
reviewed
-
J
Cité Administrative
Looming over the cathedral are the towers of the Cité Administrative, featuring giant copper-coloured slabs with fretted windows.
reviewed
-
Borj Cheikh el-Hadj
The highlight is the Turkish tower, Borj Cheikh el-Hadj, which you can climb up for stunning views over the town and beyond.
reviewed
-
Bell Tower
The tallest structure in Asmara, the narrow, Gothic Bell Tower offers unrivalled views over the town.
reviewed
-
K
Campanile
This bell tower, visible from the city centre, was erected to commemorate the landing of the 1820 British settlers. Unfortunately, it’s near the entrance to the harbour and railway station, a bit of a dodgy area. If you’re keen to climb the 53.5m structure via 204 steps to view the largest carillon of bells in the country, do so in a group if possible.
reviewed