Cultural sightseeing in Mozambique

An unprepared tourist might find it surprising that there are landmarks made by people with European names in the south of the African continent. For example, Gustave Eiffel, a French engineer who became internationally famous because of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, built the railway station in Maputo. The square in front of the station is no less interesting for fans of history. This square was previously known as MacMahon Square. Today, it still has a granite monument that dates back to the Portuguese colonial period.

The modern capital of Mozambique – Maputo – is the southernmost city of the republic. Initially, this was a fort established by the Portuguese in a comfortable bay away from large settlements. A town slowly appeared around the fort. It was growing an eventually got a name after the Portuguese explorer Lourenco Marques. The city was the capital of Portugal’s East Africa and was a large European-style settlement. This is the reason why there are many European architectural landmarks, sights, and monuments in Maputo. In the mid-70s of the 20th century, after the independence war, the city changed its name to Maputo.

Don’t forget to visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception during your stay in Maputo. This notable religious landmark was built at the edge of the 30s and 40s of the 20th century. The bright white building is tall and looks gorgeous, rising proudly above other buildings. The Tunduru Botanical Gardens is located nearby. This garden has a collection of tropical plants and flowers from different parts of Mozambique and European countries. For tourists, it is very interesting to visit the city market built at the beginning of the 20th century by a European architect. It is believed that the building is a copy of the Aster Hall in Hamburg (Germany). Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The building of the Museum of Natural History is an architectural landmark. It exhibits an ethnographic collection of such items as traditional tableware, musical instruments (drums of different sizes and chopi timbila, a xylophone-like instrument), and crafts by local masters. Such exhibitions as taxidermied African animals in their natural habitat and different “live scenes” like “leopard and his catch”, “a herd of antelopes”, “a hippo family near water” always draw the attention of museum guests. The museum is educative and very exciting to visit. This venue is really one of the must-visit places in Maputo.

There is a zoo in the capital. The zoo gives an insight into the indigenous fauna of the region. Many years ago, bears lived in Maputo zoo but they died because the climate wasn’t suitable. By the way, there are no bears in Africa. Many travelers include a visit to the Fisheries Museum into their vacation plan. The exhibition is dedicated to the traditions of local fishermen and their equipment. In the city aquarium, visitors can see the creatures that live in the Indian Ocean. The National Museum of Art exhibits works of Mozambican artists starting from Bertina Lopes, a talented painter of the first half of the 20th century, and up to modern masters.

Casa de Ferro or the Iron House (another project of Gustave Eiffel) is really made from iron. This important attraction of Maputo has survived to this day in great condition despite its honorable age – the house was built in 1892. The house was built as a governor’s residence but it is impossible to live in an iron house in the hot and humid tropical climate. The building was turned into a court, then a college, and then an office. Having visited museums and the market, tried national food, and explored the streets and squares of Maputo (the largest city in the republic), tourists can understand this country a bit better.

The Palace and Chapel of Sao Paulo is one of the most notable attractions of the country. The landmark is located on the Island of Mozambique (north of the country, close to Lumbo). The palace was built in 1610. It remained a Jesuit school until 1700 and then turned into a residence of Portuguese governors. Nowadays, the Museum of the Island of Mozambique is open in the building. History comes alive in this gorgeous museum. The exhibition features household items, jewelry, and furniture of the past centuries. The building is in great condition even though it was built more than four centuries ago.

There is one more chapel nearby, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte. It is located close to the Fort of San Sebastian, and these landmarks are included in the list of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. When exploring this place, don’t forget to attend the Museum of the Sacred Art famous for its collection of religious artifacts of the III-V centuries. The island is not big but there are around ten hotels and several restaurants here. Pemba, a popular resort city, lies on the northeastern coast. Wimbi is the primary destination for vacationers here. This is a famous beach located approximately 5 kilometers from the downtown area. Pemba is a wonderful destination for beach holidays. Excursions in the city, beach recreation in Wimbi, coral reef, dolphins, turtles, diving, and night discos – travelers can enjoy all these in this Mozambique city.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the country’s national parks: Quirimbas, Gilé, Gorongosa, Zinave, and Maputo where tourists can see tropical flora and animal world of Southern Africa. When heading to an excursion, tourists will certainly see baobab and mangrove trees, blooming cacti, quicksand, herds of antelopes, elephants, and roe. This is a truly mesmerizing experience. Mozambique is an interesting country with a rich history but tourists need to remember that there might be people who are not friendly with foreign guests. Mozambicans still remember about the colonial period, and so people in remote rural areas can call white tourists “mzungu”, which is an insulting word. Tourists shouldn’t visit such areas alone.