THE Island of Mozambique is an island in Mozambique. Located in Northern Mozambique, in the Province of Nampula, it is from this city that the name of the country comes from. The great attraction of this island is its vast heritage, unique in Mozambique and the rest of Africa. It was the capital of Mozambique for nearly four centuries, under Portuguese rule, before it was moved to Lourenço Marques (the current Maputo), and was already used as a base for Arab merchants before the arrival of the Portuguese. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To arrive
TAP has connections between Lisbon and Maputo, with several weekly frequencies. LAM and Air Corridor have daily flights to Nampula, which is about two hundred kilometers from the coast. To do this last route, it is possible to rent a car in Nampula, or pick up a plate. The trip can be, with advantage, previously organized in Maputo with an agency. SET Tours (Av. 24 de Julho, 2096, 1st; [email protected]), organizes programs for this and other regions of Mozambique.
You can easily reach the island by car from Nampula. Follow the road towards Nacala, and follow the sign for Ilha de Moçambique (which is in Monapo). It will take about two hours and the road is in good condition. When you arrive you will have to cross the bridge, which costs about 5,000 Mts.
If you want to pick up a "chapa", they leave from Avenida dos Trabalhadores in Nampula (near the train station) and cost Mts 80,000.
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The island is relatively small (about 1 km2), so the easiest way to get around is to walk - about 20 minutes from end to end, only three blocks wide. You can rent bikes for a day at Gabriel. Apart from these there are not many other ways to get around the island.
Look
All. The island is a mix of Portuguese and Muslim architecture. It is basically divided into two halves: the old Stone City and the City of Macuti, in the south, which is below the main streets.
The museum is in the Captains General Palace, also known as São Paulo Palace, a large red building in Stone City. In the same building there is a tourist office that sells maps of the island's streets and has all kinds of information about various restaurants and guesthouses on the island. It's worth coming here when you arrive.
The Fort of São Sebastião, on the northern tip of the island, which includes the Church of Our Lady of Baluarte, most likely the oldest European building in the Southern Hemisphere, dating back to 1522. Don't forget to ask for a ticket when entering the fort; if they don't give you, don't pay.
Other attractions are the Chapel of St. Anthony, at Forte de Santo António, which dates from the 16th century; The Contra Costa street, the avenue that follows the north coast of the island, and the statue of Luís de Camões; O navy museum; The Church of Mercy and the Museum of Sacred Art; The Church of Our Lady of Health and the small chapel of S. Francisco Xavier; The Rua dos Arcos; O Municipal market; The General Captaincy; The School of Arts and Crafts; O old hospital; O Court; The town hall; The grand mosque and the fishing port; O Hindu temple; O banana crematorium.
Knife
There is a diving center on the northern tip of the island, just below the fort, but think twice if you're not an experienced diver.
can make a boat trip Or just going to the beach. However, it is inadvisable to bathe on the beaches of Ilha de Moçambique. The waters are very dirty. If you want, you can also take a dhow to Chaga or Mossuril and explore the coast from there.
Buy
The best things that are sold on the island come from the sea. For example, jewelry is laid out with silver from ancient coins, which come from shipwrecks that are brought to the island by the tides. Locals on the island make various objects with the remains of ships from the Carreira das Índias. For example, necklaces, bracelets and belts, made from intact coins, are very beautiful. The kids on the street sell Portuguese silver and bronze coins, but take a good look at what they sell you... and negotiate the price, as you can get them for much cheaper than in Portugal. There are also necklaces and bracelets made of shells, corals and so-called "sea beads" - which allegedly were on an Arab ship sunk by the Portuguese off the São Sebastião Fort.
With the
- Relic Restaurant - near the Palace-Museum of S. Paulo. Relíquia has an interesting interior decoration and an exotic menu - try the matapa with coconut rice. The terrace of this restaurant, facing the sea, with its rustic wooden tables, is a beautiful place to enjoy the sunset.
- Hotel Omuhipiti Restaurant - Here you can eat well and a complete meal costs €10 per person.
- Iris Restaurant (Shepherd's pie)
- Café-Restaurant Anchor d'Ouro - near the Museum of Sacred Art.
- taste bar - Local specialties.
In addition to these places, you can find other places on the island that serve rice and chima.
drink and go out
- Café-Restaurant Anchor d'Ouro - near the Museum of Sacred Art.
- Taste Bar - Local specialties.
- Nautical Esplanade - Next to the fortress. A good place to drink a beer in the late afternoon and watch the sea.
sleep
- Hotel Omuhipiti (****, tel: 00 258 66 101 02) - The only hotel on the island. It is close to the São Sebastião fort, on the northern tip of the island. It has nice rooms, although not luxurious and the restaurant is also good (and not too expensive).
For other possibilities of accommodation, it is recommended that you go to the Associação dos Amigos da Ilha de Moçambique (AMOZ). Aì will receive information about some guest houses. Here are some:
- , Amoreiras Square, City of Stone, ☎ 258-6-610078. A beautiful two-story building with nine rooms, swimming pool and restaurant.;
- White House (3 rooms with bathroom and breakfast) - Rua dos combatants, Cidade de Pedra; in the eastern part of the island, near the statue of Luís de Camões; tel: 06 610076. A very popular place, with some rooms for rent in a magnificent secular house. Some of the rooms have wonderful views. MZM 508-634 including breakfast. You are advised to reserve. Advance bookings are advised.
- Oikos House (3 bedrooms with bath);
- Caku House (2 double rooms, 2 single rooms, 2 baths, breakfast, garden).
- Luis House (Oven Tray) - A popular site. Ask where it is when you arrive, it's close to the town of macuti and it's a little difficult to find, but most locals know where it is. Note that sometimes Luis' cousin shows up and receives the payments. As Luís does not recognize these payments, he will have to pay him again. Rooms cost around MZM 203.
- Guest House Terrace of Quitandas (Rua da República, City of Stone; western part of the island, near the São Paulo Palace); telephone: 258 26 610115. [1]Separated from the beach by a garden, it has six exotically decorated suites, with every comfort and air conditioning, private bathroom, all in a 300-year-old house.
The cheapest option is to camp on the mainland near the bridge. MZM 130/person.
Leave
THE island of goa (with its beautiful lighthouse, built in 1870) is about 25 minutes by boat from the island and offers a nice beach, albeit small. Other possible islands to visit are the Seine Island and the São Lourenço Island, but do not have much interest. There is a huge beach on the coast - the beach of Chocas Mar, with one of the rare resorts in Mozambique, the Chocas-Mar complex (has a restaurant). Spend some time resting on an almost deserted beach. For diving enthusiasts, the owner of Casa Caku, Caku Amaral Dias ( [email protected] ); tm: 00-258-82-454781; fax: 00-258-6-610027) is the island's underwater diving concessionaire and organizes boat trips to neighboring islands.
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