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- Destinations
- Africa
- Mozambique
- Beira
- Ilha de Mozambique
Ilha de Mozambique
Ilha de Mozambique (Mozambique Island) is an island in the
Nampula Province in Northern Mozambique, up the coast from Beira,
with an unparalleled historical heritage. It was the capital of
Mozambique for nearly four centuries under Portuguese rule before
the move to Lourenco Marques (now Maputo), and was used as a base
for Arab traders long before that. It is not only a wonderful
tourist sight in Mozambique, but also a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
Ilha's an exquisite mix of old Portuguese and Muslim
architecture, dividing the old Stone Town in the north and the
'Reed Town' in the south. There is a great museum in the form of
the Palacio Govierno, a big red building in Stone Town. Also worth
seeing is the fort at the northern tip of the island, home to the
Church of Nossa Senhora Baluarte, quite possibly the oldest
surviving European building in the southern hemisphere, dating back
to 1522.
At the northern end of the island there is a dive centre,
situated on a beach from where visitors can take boat trips or else
just laze on the sand. For the more adventurous, a dhow can be
taken to Chaga or Mossuril on the mainland to explore the coast.
Requilias and Escondidino are two restaurants in Stone Town and
there are a number of local places serving fish and rice, or chima.
The best option for accommodation is the campsite on the mainland,
next to the bridge.
Information & Facts
Language
Portuguese is the official language, and there are 13
main national languages spoken. English is taught in secondary
schools, but is only spoken in the southern tourist
regions.
Money
The official currency is the New Metical (MZN), which is divided
into 100 centavos. In the southern parts of the country, South
African Rand, US Dollars and Pounds Sterling are also accepted to
pay for accommodation. Credit cards are accepted in some upmarket
hotels in Maputo, but facilities throughout the rest of the country
are limited; it is advisable to carry cash or travellers cheques.
ATMs are limited and tend to be unreliable, but local banks have
branches in most cities.