Description of the attraction
Luanda was founded in 1575 and was called São Paulo da Assuncao de Loanda. It is the capital of Angola and the largest city in the republic.
Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, this city is the country's central seaport, with more than 6 million inhabitants, along with the outskirts. It is also the provincial capital of Luanda and the world's third most populous Portuguese-speaking metropolis - after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the most populous Portuguese-speaking capital in the world, ahead of Brasilia, Maputo and Lisbon.
The difficult history of colonization and development of the country was reflected in its architecture. The ancient buildings, built during the time of the colonists, using natural materials available in the region - local wood, different types of clay and stone mined nearby, attract with a non-trivial flavor that cannot be found anywhere else. In 1618, the Portuguese built the fortress Fortaleza São Pedro da Barra, later they built two more: Fortaleza de São Miguel (1634) and Forte de São Francisco do Penedo.
The characteristic features of colonial architecture are clearly visible in the well-preserved Fort San Miguel, the buildings of the University of Luanda. In the city center you can see the Jesuit church and the Temple of the Madonna of Nazareth from the 16th -17th century, the Carmelite temple dating back to the middle of the 17th century. The former governor's residence is also an attraction. The culture of Portugal has long left its mark on the stylistic design of Luanda in the form of ancient sidewalks paved with mosaics.
Currently, the city is undergoing a large-scale reconstruction, which is changing its appearance.
