Moorish Barracks
An 1874 barracks built for a regiment from Goa, in a Mughal-influenced style.
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UNESCO World Heritage
The Moorish Barracks were built in 1874 on the slope above the inner harbour to house a regiment brought from Portuguese Goa, and the Italian architect gave the building arched verandas, horseshoe openings and a parapet drawn from Mughal India rather than from Portugal or China, which makes it unlike anything else in the city. It now houses the Marine and Water Bureau, so only the exterior and the veranda are open.
What you actually see
- The Mughal detailing - horseshoe arches and parapets drawn from Indian models.
- The arched veranda - the covered walk along the front, open to visitors.
- The Goa connection - a barracks built for a regiment brought from Portuguese India.
- The harbour position - the building on the slope above the inner harbour.
When to go
October to December is dry and cool. Only the veranda is accessible and it is open in daylight hours. The interior is a working government office.
Honest expectations
The interior is a government office and closed to visitors. Only the veranda and exterior can be seen, which takes fifteen minutes. There is no interpretation on site.
Nearby
Lilau Square is north, and A-Ma Temple is south.
What to pack for Moorish Barracks
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.