The Island of Mozambique (Portuguese: Ilha de Moçambique) is located off the northern coast of Mozambique, between the Mozambique Channel and Mossuril Bay. It is part of Nampula Province. Before 1898, it was the capital of Portuguese East Africa under colonial rule.

The island has a long history and beautiful sandy beaches. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is becoming one of Mozambique's most popular tourist destinations. The island has about 14,000 people living there permanently. A nearby airport called Lumbo Airport on the mainland of Nampula serves the island. The name of the country, Mozambique, comes from the name of this island.

History

Pottery found on Mozambique Island shows that the town was built by the 1400s. According to tradition, the original Swahili people came from Kilwa. By the 1500s, the town’s rulers were connected to the rulers of Angoche and Quelimane. In 1514, Duarte Barbosa recorded that the town had a Muslim population and that they spoke the same Swahili language as Angoche.

The island’s name (Portuguese: Moçambique, pronounced [musɐ̃ˈbiki]) comes from Ali Musa Mbiki (Mussa Bin Bique), the island’s sultan during the time of Vasco da Gama. This name was later used for the mainland country now called Mozambique, and the island was renamed Ilha de Moçambique (Island of Mozambique). The Portuguese built a port and naval base in 1507 and constructed the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte in 1522, which is now considered the oldest European building in the Southern Hemisphere.

During the 16th century, the Fort São Sebastião was built, and the Portuguese settlement (now called Stone Town) became the capital of Portuguese East Africa. The island also became an important place where missionaries worked. It successfully defended itself against Dutch attacks in 1607 and 1608, led by Captain-General Dom Estêvão de Ataíde, and remained a major Portuguese stop during trips to India. The island was a center for trading slaves, spices, and gold.

Besides the old forts, only half of the town is made of stone. The hospital, a beautiful building in the neo-classical style built by the Portuguese in 1877, has a garden with ponds and fountains. It was painted white after the Mozambican Civil War. For many years, it was the largest hospital south of the Sahara.

After the Suez Canal opened, the island’s importance decreased. In 1898, the capital was moved to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) on the mainland. By the middle of the 20th century, the new harbor at Nacala took over most of the island’s business.

Attractions

Important buildings on the island include the Palace and Chapel of São Paulo, constructed in 1640 as a Jesuit College. Later, it was used as the Governor's Residence and is now a museum. The Museum of Sacred Art is located in the Church of the Misericórdia, which is managed by the House of Mercy. It displays a Makonde crucifix. Other buildings include the Church of Santo António, the Church of the Misericórdia, and the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte. The island, now fully developed, also has several mosques and a Hindu temple. A 3 km bridge was built in the 1960s to connect it to the mainland.

The island is small, about 3 km long and between 200 and 500 meters wide. Most historical buildings are located at the northern end. Most residents live in reed houses in Makuti Town, which is at the southern end of the island.

Gallery

• A map created by Pieter van den Keere in 1598
• A map of the Harbour from 1810
• The Mozambique Island Bridge, which is 3.8 kilometers long (about 2.4 miles)
• The Old Hospital
• The Church of Santo António
• Beach cleaning activities
• Makuti Town

The island is also near two popular tourist areas: Chocas Mar, a long beach located about 40 kilometers north of Ilha de Moçambique across Mossuril Bay, and Cabaceiras.