The Portuguese navigator, Vasco da Gamma first came to Mombasa in 1498AD, but his relations with the townspeople deteriorated rapidly. After just one week, the Portuguese thought it prudent to sail on to friendly Malindi where they established their first East African base. But Mombasa’s natural harbour soon attracted other foreign attention and a Turkish expedition built a fort there in 1589AD. Fearing for the security of their route back to Portugal, the Portuguese attacked and took Mombasa in 1593AD, and began at once to build a fortress to guard the harbour entrance. Fort Jesus has been under the alternating control of Portugese, Omani Arabs and British throughout its 400 year existence. In the present, it is a part of the National Museums of Kenya and is a major tourist attraction for the costal region.