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1 The National Museum of Art 2 The Statue of Samora Machel In the Praça da Independência, at the entrance to the Tunduru Garden, you will find the statue of Samora Machel (1933-1986). He was the first president of the People's Republic of Mozambique. The statue is cast in bronze and was erected after his tragic death in a plane crash over South Africa. 3 The Cathedral This is an unusual design for a cathedral but nonetheless, eye-catching and worth a visit. It was built in 1944 in the shape of a cross, which can be clearly seen from the air. 4 The Municipal Council 5 Franco-Mozambican Cultural Centre This attractive building is on Av. Samora Machel, just across the street from the Cathedral. It is worth popping in for a look as many cultural events take place there and there is a small café/bar. There is also a library with a good collection of books about Mozambique and French periodicals. Programmes are issued bi-monthly. Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 08H00-12H00 and 14H00-17H00. 6 The Iron House Beside the Tunduru Gardens, the Iron House was designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1892 and is made entirely of steel. It was originally intended as the Governor's house however it proved to be far too hot for the sub-tropical climate of Maputo and was never inhabited by the Governor. It is now the office of the Museums Department. 7 The Tunduru Gardens 8 Centre for Brazilian Studies This charming old building can be found on the junction of Av. Karl Marx and Av. 25 de Setembro. The centre runs courses in the Portuguese language and is equipped with a language laboratory. It has a reference library and also exhibition space. On Friday evenings, there is often live music in the bar of the upstairs courtyard. Hours of opening: Tuesday-Friday, 09H00-13H00 and 15H00-19H00. 9 The Central Market 10 The Money Museum This famous building on Rua Consiglieri Pedroso near the Praça 25 de Junho, the Casa Amarela (Yellow House), owes its name to the fact that it has always been painted yellow. The museum traces the history of currency in Mozambique. Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday 09H00-12H00 and 14H00-16H30; Fridays 09H00-12H00 and Sundays 14H00-17H00. 11 Arts and Crafts Market If you happen to be visiting the Praça 25 de Junho on a Saturday before lunchtime, you will come across this market in the middle of the Square. Here you can buy anything from a batik to a painted bird or a carved wooden head. There are also sandalwood products on sale. The market attracts many tourists so be prepared to haggle and bargain for a better deal. 12 The Fortress On the other side of the Praça 25 de Junho is the Fortress, one of Maputo's oldest buildings. The style of building greatly resembles other Portuguese forts along the coast of East Africa. Currently it is a military museum and contains many of the relics of Mozambique's colonial past and from time to time hosts visiting exhibitions. Opening hours: Saturday and Sunday, 07H00-17H00. 13 Port of Maputo 14 Praça dos Trabalhadores From the Port area, continue down the Rua Martires de Inhaminga and you will arrive in the Praça dos Trabalhadores. In the centre of the Praça is a monument dedicated to Mozambican soldiers who fought in World War One. The sculpture portrays a woman who, according to local legend, killed a cobra which had been terrorising local people for some time. The cobra plunged to its death in a pot of boiling porridge, which the woman was carrying on her head at the time. The cobra can be seen rising from the woman's feet. 15 C.F.M. Railway Station This building was designed in 1910 by Gustave Eiffel and is one of the most interesting buildings in the city. The original wrought ironwork and marble pillars are still in place. The large central dome was designed to allow light to enter and air to circulate within the station. You will also find two original steam locomotives dating from the 19th century. Nowadays train services run to the Zimbabwe border and to Durban and Johannesburg in South Africa. 16 Louis Trichardt Memorial Situated on Av. Josina Machel, this memorial garden is dedicated to the memory of Louis Trichardt, a South African explorer who travelled the distance from South Africa to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo). His journey can be traced on a water mosaic in the memorial grounds, where he is buried 17 Statue of Eduardo Mondlane 18 Casa da Cultura This building can be found on the junction of Av. Albert Luthuli and Av. Ho Chi Minh. It is the home of the renowned Companhia Nacional de Canto e Dança. (National Music and Dance Company).The centre offers dance and music classes and there are some craft items on sale in the entrance hall. 19 Museum of the Revolution This museum recounts the history of the Revolution in Mozambique, through various maps and photographs. There are also examples of weapons and uniforms worn at the time. All of the captions and texts are in Portuguese and the museum fills four floors of the building. Opening hours: Weekdays 09H00-12H00 and 14H00-18H00 (except Wednesday), Saturday 14H00-18H00 and Sundays 09H00-12H00 and 15H00-18H00. 20 Praça dos Heróis This memorial is situated near the airport, in the middle of a traffic
roundabout, on Av. Acordos de Lusaka. The star-shaped monument holds the
remains of Mozambique's heroes of the revolution and is open to the public
on 3rd February each year, Heroes' Day. Across the road from the monument
is a mural depicting the struggle for independence, which was the creation
of a group of Mozambique's most influential artists. Please note that
you may take photos of the mural (although you may attract the attention
of the police) but not of the monument and you are not permitted to walk
across the roundabout (you will pay a fine based on the number of metres
walked if you do!). |
| Downtown Area | Bairro
Polana and Museu | Along the Marginal Around the City |
Dowtown area
Situated
in Av. Ho Chi Minh 1233, this museum has an extensive collection of paintings
and sculpture by Mozambican artists, including the works of Malangatana,
Naguib, Chissano and Mucavele. In addition to the permanent displays there
are also visiting exhibitions from time to time. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday,
15H00-19H00. 
Completed
in 1945, this neo-classical building currently houses the mayoral chambers
and city council offices. During colonial times, the words 'Aqui é Portugal'
('This is Portugal') were inscribed on the front of the building but have
since been removed. Inside the lobby are models of Maputo and Marracuene
as they were in former times. You are permitted to enter the lobby but
are not allowed to go further inside the building.
This
is a pleasant spot to relax during the heat of the day where the canopy
of tall trees creates an oasis of shade and calm for workers and tourists
alike. It was created in 1885 by the famous English gardener, Thomas Honney,
who also designed gardens for the Sultan of Turkey and the King of Greece.
For those interested in botany, many of the trees are labelled with information
about the species and origin. It is possible to visit the greenhouse but
first ask for permission at the office nearby. Within the garden, adjacent
to Av. Vladimir Lenine, you will find tennis courts owned by the Mozambique
Tennis Federation and a couple of restaurants nearby which serve lunches
and snacks, in a pleasant, shady environment. Outside the garden, not
far away is the famous Café Continental, on 25 de Setembro where you can
choose between the old fashioned interior or the outside esplanada which
gives a great view of passing life.
Further
on down Av. 25 de Setembro is the Central Market. The building is somewhat
dilapidated now but nonetheless beautiful and the market is a hub of activity,
with stalls selling prawns, fish, cashew nuts, vegetables and crafts.
It is advisable to use your own weighing scale when buying prawns, as
the stall-holders own are not always accurate. The Market area attracts
thieves and it may be safer to park your car a little further away from
the entrance and walk the rest of the way. Keep all valuables concealed
from view.
Destined
to play a major role in the future of Mozambique, the Port of Maputo is
the nearest access to the sea for land-locked Swaziland and the northern
provinces of South Africa. It was built in 1784 but was not fully developed
for commercial trade until the Portuguese settled here permanently in
1867.
In
the middle of the busy traffic junction at the top of Av. Eduardo Mondlane
stands the statue of Dr. Eduardo Mondlane (1920-1969), who was asassinated
by a letter bomb. He was the first president of FRELIMO and played an
influential role in the development of the struggle for independence in
Mozambique.