With it's Mediterranean form of architecture, creepy animals, exotic sea food and Portuguese mosaics, Maputo is without any doubt the most amazing capital city of Africa. It is the highest developed place in Mozambique with a large array of cultural hubs, shopping arenas, hotels and restaurants. Though the prices are higher than any other place in Mozambique yet they are reasonable enough to fit into a descent budget. Let's get into further discussion to know the place better.
1) Maputo is Safe Enough to Visit and Stay
The impression of Maputo in earlier times was that it is not a safe place to visit but this is just a false notion among people. It is a neat and clean city, worth visiting and knowing how awesome the place is in itself. Although one may find some opportunistic criminals at odd places and odd hours which is quite alike any other place in the country but overall the city has many advantages which should not be left unexplored.
2) An Overdose of Art and Decor
The fusion of cultural and contemporary art and decor is quite explicit in its edifices, monuments and ancient structures like Cathedral of our Lady of the Immaculate, Cine Africa, Gil Vicente Cinema etc. Pancho Guedes is the famous ancient architect , born in Portuguese and studied in Africa. Major part of the designing that we see at different places is attributed to his great aesthetic sense and acumen for art.
3) The Train Station designed by Eiffel
There are other structures also developed by Eiffel in different countries than the famous Eiffel Towers of Paris, that we know today. One is the Train Station in Maputo that displays the splendiferous piece of work of Gustav Eiffel. The station remains cold in winters and extremely warm in summers.
4) Abundance of Sea food variety
Anything that comes from the sea to eat is tasty and appetizing. A huge variety could be found in the famous fish market, ranging from prawns to lobsters and langoustines. When in Maputo, Sea food is a must eat from either local restaurants or street side stalls to indulge into real Maputo flavour.
5) Creepy Animals' Museum
This museum is inside a beautiful building with tons of weird looking natural forms and exhibition of bizarre kind of wild-life. The museum also displays ancient pottery and bleached elephant fetuses. One gets a glimpse of anthropology and the migratory phenomenon of animals and can see neon green watering holes scattered here and there on the floor of the museum.
6) Church in shape of Lemon Squeezer:-
It sounds strange but it is true. There is a church in a shape of lemon squeezer and looks amazing. The interior of the church is equally astounding with diffused light peeping in through coloured glass panels at the top.
There are many other famous attractions of Maputo that await your visit.
Martin Wynn
