Freddy Mercury house

While walking around the island of Zanzibar, you will come across an unexpected place: a monument to Freddie Mercury, the famous singer and songwriter of the rock band Queen.

On a small road in Stone Town, the historic center of Zanzibar, stands what is called the Mercury House. Mercury spent parts of his childhood in this house. He was born in Zanzibar because his parents lived there so that his father, Bomi Bulsara, could continue to work as a cashier at the British colonial office.

Although some dispute the history, many historians believe Mercury spent his vacations as a child in this house on Zanzibar and followed his school years in India. When Mercury and his parents lived in Stone Town, they regularly visited the nearby Zoroastrian temple.

Although Mercury returned to Zanzibar at age 18 to live with his parents, he fled to England the following year to escape the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution, which overthrew the sultan and killed thousands of Arabs and Indians. There he would form Queen and spend the rest of his years.

On the facade of the house is a small monument with pictures of Mercury during his childhood and life.

What you need to know before you go

The Mercury House is located on Kenyatta Road in the heart of Stone Town, Zanzibar