Maputo Things to Do

Scala is an art house cinema/arts centre that is named after the Teatro alla Scala (Scala Theatre) built in Milan under the auspices of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in 1776. The actuality does not live up to the grandeur of its namesake, but it is an art cinema in the true sense of the name. The day I visited my guide told me it was closed because it ran out of money (again), but I can find film times there for tomorrow on the internet, so it is open again! The building houses a cafe, restaurant, snack bar, a bakery and take-away service.

There is also a Production Company housed here called PROMARTE (Tel: +258 1 425365, Fax: +258 1 422434, M?vil: + 258 82 30 22 350, promarte@tropical.co.za). They recently produced a movie called ?O Jardim do Outro Homem? which tells the all too real tale of a woman contracting AIDS from a man who refuses to wear a condom.

So, if it is open, stop by and find out what movie is playing and what other activities are available.

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Maputo's most evocative landmark is the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of Conception). This Portuguese fort (or Fortaleza) was built in the mid-18th century on top of earlier fortifications. Its striking architecture, battlements and cannons have a dominant position over the main harbour area.

Inside are several striking reliefs commemorating the defeat of Gungunhana (1850-1906), the king of Gaza (an area to the South of Maputo). He was aligned with the Portuguese King, but then rebelled against the colonial authorities. Loyal forces lead by Joaquim Mouzinho de Albuquerque put down the uprising and captured Gungunhana at Chaimite . The former King of Gaza later converted to Catholicism and lived in exile in the Azores until his death.

A commanding equestrian statue of Joaquim Mouzinho de Albuquerque lies in the small well kept gardens. The question is who is buried inside the gardens? I have read that it is Gungunhana, but he died in the Azores. Joaquim Mouzinho de Albuquerque failed as an Administrator and committed suicide in Lisbon. So who is buried with a Royal looking crest on their tombstone?

Standing in absolute contrast to the Communist Themed avenues and statues to great Mozambique leaders is the Louis Tregardt Trek memorial garden. A commemorative plaque in memory of the Voortrekker leader Louis Tregardt was unveiled on 12 October 1968 when South African Navy ships SAS Simon van der Stel, Kimberley and Mosselbaai visited Lourenço Marques (now Maputo).

Tregardt was a pioneer in the Boer ‘Great Trek’ movement. The Boers felt that the continued influx of British settlers and the emancipation of slaves in 1833 they need to leave for greener pastures. He formed a group of 9 families who set out for the Portuguese Colony of Delagoa Bay (Maputo) to establish trade links and find new lands. He is the acknowledged leader of the Voorste Mense (The Great Trek's `people in front'). He found Delagoa Bay in 1838, but he and many in his party died from Malaria.

More information can be found at:
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/ransford/map2.htm

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Built in 1944 the tall white spire of Maputo’s Cathedral dominates Independence Square. It is dedicated to ‘Our Lady of Conception’ and was a very contemporary piece of architecture for its time. It is a working church and the seat of the Catholic Church for Mozambique. This iconic structure was designed by an engineer named Marcial Freitas e Costa in 1936. The tower reaches up to 66 meters (216 feet).

I am a sucker for trains, so it's no surprise that I made a point of seeking out the railway station, which was designed by Gustav Eiffel (of Paris Tower fame). It's smaller than you might expect, but beautifully proportioned nonetheless.

Of course it would have been even better if this has been the start or end of a romantic train trip, but for the moment, I was just content to look and contemplate the possibilities!

This is a proper working market frequented by local people to do their grocery shopping, so it's a great place to go people watching and get a sense of what the locals buy. If nothing else, you will be astounded by the sheer number of variations on a peri peri (VERY hot chilli sauce) theme are available!

It's a great place to buy food as souvenirs - peri peri (surprise!) and wonderful cashew nuts are obvious purchases, but if you're planning to take them back home with you, make sure you've checked out whether you'll be allowed to import them to your home country.

It is quite a crowded space, so it can feel quite claustrophobic and pickpockets are a potential problem.

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The Museu de História Natural -MHN- (The Natural History Museum) was founded in 1911 and since 1933 it has been located in this Manueline style building (see photos).

Due to its thousands of items on display, this Museum is definitely one of Maputo's most popular landmarks.

Tickets are 50 MT (about 1.5 euros) per person.

At the entrance of the MHN - Museu de História Natural (The Natural History Museum), the visitor finds the access to the Museum's second floor (see photo).

The visitor is now facing a pair of elephant's tusks and also two embalmed antelope heads positioned as "looking" to each other.