Ilha de Moçambique

Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique Island)

Ilha de Moçambique translates to Mozambique Island and is often referred to as this by English speakers in southern Africa. Situated south of the Quirimbas and norht of the Bazaruto it was once the singularly most important town in Mozambique used as a commercial settlement by merchants, particularly Arab merchants, to trade along the entire Mozambican coastline. A wide variety of people from many distant lands used Mozambique Island as a trading post until the Portuguese navigators landed in 1498 and built the fort of São Sebastião (St. Sebastian) for the purpose of creating a base from which to venture inland.

Amongst exports from Mozambique Island were gold, ivory and slaves.

The capital was moved from Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique Island) to the current capital of Maputo, then known as Lourenço Marques, and by the end of the 19^th century the island was rapidly declining and today has a nostalgic if somewhat neglected feel. The whole island was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991 and restoration of some buildings is now in progress, although it is a slow and painstaking process to restore thes buildings to their former glory.

The island is split into two unique sections, the "Stone Towni" where the Muslims originally built their limestone city and later the Portuguese built their trading posts, forts and public buildings, and the "macuti" town constructed by stick-to-prick and clad with clay.

While wandering around the island you will see the influence of muslim and Portuguese architeture in the dacaying public buildings and those which have been restored, many of which are now guest houses.

The island is easily accessible by vehicle via a concrete bridge 3.3km long built in the 1960's. It is possible to hire cars in Nampula and Nacala, and also to arrange charter flights to and from Lumbo situated on the mainland just a few kilometres from the bridge to Ilha.

• Walk around the old Portuguese fort
• Visit to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora (probably the oldest building on the island, dating to 1552)
• Visit to the Palace of São Paulo, now a museum
• Visit to the Chapel of São Paulo an annex to the museum with carvings from India
• Snorkelling and Diving trips
• Dhow trips to nearby Goa Island for snorkeling, swimming and deserted beach
• Day trips to Chocas beach (mainland)