Sights in Mozambique
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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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Maputo
With its Mediterranean-style architecture, waterside setting and wide avenues lined by jacaranda and flame trees, Maputo is easily one of Africa's most attractive capitals. It's also the most developed place in Mozambique by far, with a wide selection of hotels and restaurants, well-stocked supermarkets, shady sidewalk cafes, and a lively cultural scene.
The heart of the city is the bustling, low-lying baixa (busy port and commercial area). Here, Portuguese-era buildings with their graceful balconies and wrought-iron balustrades jostle for space with ungainly Marxist-style apartment blocks. Galabiyya-garbed men gather in doorways for a chat, Indian traders carry on brisk…
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Bazaruto Archipelago National Park
This archipelago consists of five main islands: Bazaruto, Benguera, Magaruque, Santa Carolina and tiny Bangué. It's about as close to a tropical paradise as you'll find, and is one of Mozambique's highlights. Among its attractions: clear, turquoise waters; tranquil, white-sand beaches; a plethora of colourful birds; and rewarding diving and snorkelling.
The larger islands were originally connected to the mainland at Ponta São Sebastião. The small population of Nile crocodiles that laze in the sun in remote corners of both Bazaruto and Benguera islands is evidence of this earlier link.
Thanks to this protected status, and to the archipelago's relative isolation from…
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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…
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Mozambique Island
Tiny, crescent-shaped Mozambique Island has played a larger-than-life role in East African coastal life over the centuries. Today, it is an intriguing anomaly - part ghost town and part lively fishing community. It's picturesque and pleasant to wander around, with colonnaded archways and stately colonial-era buildings lining the quiet, cobbled streets.
In Makuti Town, with its thatched-roof huts and crush of people, narrow alleyways echo with the sounds of playing children and squawking chickens, while fishermen sit on the sand repairing their long, brightly-coloured nets.
The waterfront in between, along the island's eastern edge, is known as the contracosta.
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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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Praça do Município & Praça do Metical
The heart of the city is the area around the squares of Praça do Município and Praça do Metical (the latter marked by a large metical coin perched on a pedestal). Near here, you'll find shops, banks, telecom and internet facilities, plus an array of sidewalk cafés. North of the two squares is the baixa (old commercial area), with the port and some charming old colonial-style architecture, while about 1km east is Maquinino, the main bus and transport hub.
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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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Paquitequete
On Pemba's outskirts are several colourful and vibrant bairros (neighbourhoods). The most intriguing is Paquitequete, which is on the southwestern edge of the peninsula and is Pemba's oldest settlement. In contrast with the other bairros, which are newer and more heterogeneous, the population here is almost exclusively Muslim, and predominantly Mwani and Makua. The atmosphere is at its best in the late afternoon just before sunset.
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Praia de Makuti
Makuti is the residential area fringing Beira's small stretch of beach. Praia de Makuti is one of the better places in town to relax, though it can't compare with the coastline further south or north. The water is moderately clean, currents strong (ask locally where swimming is possible) and the breezes good. At the end is the old red-and-white Makuti Lighthouse, dating to 1904.
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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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Cemetery
Up on the hill behind the governor's mansion is a large Cemetery, with fragrant frangipani trees shading the Christian and Muslim graves. Close to the sea is a section containing Commonwealth war graves.
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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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Casa Infante de Sagres
The streets in the area around the port are lined with faded colonial-era buildings. One to watch for is the restored Casa Infante de Sagres, now the offices of Manica Shipping Company.
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Ponta Gêa
From Praça do Município, tree-lined streets lead south and east through the shady and charming Ponta Gêa residential area, which features some charming old houses.
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Hotel Santa Maria
It's worth taking a stroll through the bustling market area near the bus stand. Nearby is the now derelict Hotel Santa Maria, built by tycoon-entrepreneur Joaquim Alves.
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Dona Ana Hotel
At the northern end of town on the beach is the rambling, currently derelict and soon to be rehabilitated Dona Ana Hotel, built by tycoon-entrepreneur Joaquim Alves.
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Cathedral
Beira's spired Cathedral, southeast of the centre, was built in the early 20th century with stones taken from the ruins of San Caetano fort in Sofala.
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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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Praia de Wimbi
Almost everyone heads straight for Praia de Wimbi, where you can swim or enjoy the sea breezes at one of the many waterside restaurants or bars.
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