Island of Mozambique

The Island of Mozambique (Ilha de Moçambique) is a slender coral island off the country's northern coast that gave the modern nation its name. Once the capital of Portuguese East Africa, it was a pivotal port on the maritime route between Europe and India from the early 16th century, and its remarkably uniform stone-and-lime architecture reflects that long trading history. The northern Stone Town is a dense grid of Portuguese colonial buildings, churches and the imposing Fort São Sebastião, the oldest complete fort still standing in sub-Saharan Africa, while the southern half is the reed-and-thatch Makuti Town where most islanders live. Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influences mingle in its mosques, chapels and merchant houses. Linked to the mainland by a long causeway, the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site treasured for the integrity and authenticity of its historic townscape.