Muleeaage & Medhu Ziyaarath
Across the road from the Old Friday Mosque is Muleeaage , built as a palace in the early 20th century. The sultan was deposed before he could move in and the building was used for government offices for about 40 years. It became the president’s residence in 1953 when the first republic was proclaimed, but lost the honour in 1994 to Theemuge , a far more lavish residence on Orchid Magu favoured by President Gayoom. Muleeaage became the presidential residence again in 2009 when President Nasheed took power and decided to slim down the presidential residence and staff. The building became a focal point for both pro- and anti-Nasheed demonstrations before and immediately after the February 2012 political upheaval. At the eastern end of the building’s compound, behind an elaborate blue-and-white gatehouse, the Medhu Ziyaarath is the tomb of Abul Barakat Yoosuf Al Barbary, who brought Islam to Male in 1153.
Read more: Lonely planet