Sights in Maputo
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Casa de Ferro
Just off the Praça de Independência is the Casa de Ferro, which was designed by Eiffel in the late 19th century as the governor's residence, though its metal-plated exterior proved unsuitable for tropical conditions.
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Fortaleza
The old fort was built by the Portuguese in the mid-19th century near the site of an earlier fort. Inside is a garden and a small museum with remnants from the era of early Portuguese forays to the area.
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Praça de Independência
This wide plaza is rimmed on one side by the soaring white spire of the Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Conceição and on the other by the hulking, neoclassical Conselho Municipal (City Hall).
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Museu Chissano
Works of the renowned sculptor Alberto Chissano are displayed in his family's residence at the Museu Chissano, together with the works of other sculptors and painters. It's outside Maputo in the Matola suburb in an area called Bairro Sial: take Av 24 de Julho towards Matola. Approaching Matola, watch for some grey warehouses on the left side of the roadway, and turn right onto a small tarmac road branching off the main road roughly opposite the warehouses.
Follow this for 1.2km and then turn right again. Continue about 1km past the police station. Take the first left after the police station and continue 100m to the T-junction; the Chissano Museum is in the large white ho…
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Praça dos Heróis Moçambicanos
The large Praça dos Heróis Moçambicanos, along Av Acordos de Lusaka near the airport, is notable for its 95m-long mural commemorating the revolution. The star-shaped white marble structure in its centre holds the remains of Mozambique's revolutionary and post-independence heroes, including Eduardo Mondlane and Samora Machel, as well as those of national poet José Craveirinha.
Photographs are prohibited. Except on 3 February, when it's open to the public, you'll need to get permission to visit (including to walk across the praça) from the Bureau de Informação Pública (Public Information Bureau).
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Núcleo de Arte
This long-standing artists' cooperative is a focal point among Mozambican artistic circles. It has frequent exhibitions featuring the work of up-and-coming artists (some of which is for sale), including pieces made in the 'Guns into Art' project (check their website for more). There's also a pottery area, and a garden where you can talk with the artists and watch them at work. It's in a dilapidated colonial-era house near the Hospital Central.
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Casa e Museu Malangatana
It's possible to visit the house and studio of Malangatana, Mozambique's most renowned painter. It is filled with dozens of his own paintings as well as several sculptures of Alberto Chissano. Call ahead to arrange an appointment. The house is located several kilometres outside the city centre; ask directions when arranging the visit.
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Museu de História Natural
The recently renovated Museu de História Natural near Hotel Cardoso is worth a stop to see its Manueline architecture and its garden with a mural by Malangatana. Inside are some moderately interesting taxidermy specimens, and what is probably the region's only collection of elephant foetuses.
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Museu da Moeda
The Museu da Moeda, housed in a yellow building on the corner of Rua Consiglieri Pedroso, dates from 1860. Inside are exhibits of local currency, ranging from early barter tokens to modern-day bills. At time of writing, it's temporarily closed for renovations.
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Museu da Revolução
The sombre Museu da Revolução documents Mozambique's independence struggle. Exhibits are in Portuguese, but with many photos, and provide a good feel for events that have shaped the country's recent history.
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Museu Nacional de Arte
The Museu Nacional de Arte, half a block west of Av Karl Marx, has an excellent collection of paintings and sculptures by Mozambique's finest contemporary artists, including Malangatana and Chissano.
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Baixa
The heart of old Maputo is in the Baixa, which is where most of the sights are, though there are also some wonderful museums in the outlying suburbs.
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