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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 The island of Mozambique seen from Fort São Sebastião (the bridge to the mainland in the background) | |
 Interactive map of Island of Mozambique | |
| Location | Nampula Province,Mozambique |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iv), (vi) |
| Reference | 599 |
| Inscription | 1991 (15thSession) |
| Coordinates | 15°02′12″S40°43′58″E / 15.03667°S 40.73278°E /-15.03667; 40.73278 |
  Island of Mozambique Location of Island of Mozambique in Mozambique | |
TheIsland of Mozambique (Portuguese:Ilha de Moçambique) lies off northernMozambique, between theMozambique Channel and Mossuril Bay, and is part ofNampula Province.[1] Prior to 1898, it was the capital of colonialPortuguese East Africa.[2]
With its rich history and sandy beaches, the Island of Mozambique is aUNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mozambique's fastest-growing tourist destinations.[1] It has a permanent population of approximately 14,000 people and is served by nearbyLumbo Airport on the Nampula mainland. The name of the country, Mozambique, is derived from the name of this island.
Pottery found on Mozambique Island indicates that the town was founded no later than the fourteenth century. According to tradition, the originalSwahili population came fromKilwa. The town's rulers had links with the rulers of bothAngoche andQuelimane by the fifteenth century. In 1514,Duarte Barbosa noted that the town had a Muslim population and that they spoke the same Swahili dialect as Angoche.[3]
The name of the island (Portuguese:Moçambique, pronounced[musɐ̃ˈbiki]) is derived from Ali Musa Mbiki (Mussa Bin Bique), sultan of the island in the times ofVasco da Gama. This name was subsequently taken to the mainland country which is modern-dayMozambique, and the island was renamedIlha de Moçambique (Island of Mozambique). The Portuguese established a port andnaval base in 1507 and built theChapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte in 1522, now considered the oldest European building in theSouthern Hemisphere.
During the 16th century, theFort São Sebastião was built, and the Portuguese settlement (now known asStone Town) became thecapital ofPortuguese East Africa. The island also became an importantmissionary centre. It withstood Dutch attacks in 1607 and 1608, in a successful defense led by captain-general DomEstêvão de Ataíde,[4] and remained a major post for the Portuguese on their trips to India. It saw the trading ofslaves,spices, andgold.
Apart from the ancient fortifications, only half of the town is stone-built. The hospital, a majesticneo-classical building constructed in 1877 by the Portuguese, with a garden decorated with ponds and fountains, was repainted white after theMozambican Civil War. For many years, it was the biggest hospital south of the Sahara.[5]
With the opening of theSuez Canal, the island's fortunes waned. In 1898, the capital was moved to Lourenço Marques (nowMaputo) on the mainland. By the middle of the 20th century, the new harbour ofNacala took most of the remaining business.
Other notable buildings on the island include the Palace and Chapel of São Paulo, built in 1640 as a Jesuit College and subsequently used as the Governor's Residence, now a museum; the Museum of Sacred Art, housed in the Church of the Misericórdia run by the House of Mercy, displaying an excellentMakondecrucifix; the Church of Santo António; the Church of the Misericórdia; and theChapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte. The island, now entirely urbanised, is also home to severalmosques and aHindu temple. A 3 kmbridge was erected in the 1960s to connect it to the mainland.
The island in itself is not large, about 3 km long and between 200 and 500 metres wide. Most historical buildings are at the island's northern end. The majority of the residents live in reed houses inMakuti Town at the southern end of the island.
_Chart_of_the_Harbour_of_Mozambique.jpg)
The island is also close to two tourist highlights:Chocas Mar, a long beach about 40 km north of Ilha de Moçambique across the Mossuril Bay and Cabaceiras.
Ilha de Mozambique travel guide from Wikivoyage| International | |
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