Luanda
- Mar 4, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 15, 2018
Memorial Dr António Agostinho Neto
It is hard to miss this impressive rocket like the tower, as soon as you step into Luanda. The tower can be viewed and admired from several points in the city. Built in honor of the country first President Agostinho Neto.
Once in the building, you will be provided a guide, who can speak numerous languages and allocated to small groups, creating, therefore, a unique experience.
This monument promotes the knowledge of African culture. Inside you can find the sarcophagus, where the remains of Agostinho Neto are buried, rooms with lots of historical photographs and stories, an exhibition gallery, library/video library, media library, documentation center, shops and hall of the authorities, adjacent to the exterior presidential rostrum.
Go See The Iron Palace
Another awesome architectural building in Luanda is the Iron Palace. Believed to be built by Gustave Eiffel, the builder of Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Made almost entirely of iron, it is origin is questionable as this building now known as the Iron Palace may be lost to time, but its arrival in Angola seems to have been bad luck. Built some time in the late 1800s and it is believed that the building had been designed and built in Paris. The metal edifice is thought to have shown up on the Angolan cost when it was meant to be shipped to Madagascar, but the ship carrying it was diverted by the strong Benguela currents, and lets be honest you can kind of imagine this sort of building in Madagascar!!
This building has become the new home of music, theater, fine arts which have been vibrating every screw of this palace. (click to find about events)
The Fortress Of Sao Miguel
The Fortress Of Sao Miguel built in 1576 was once the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Armed Forces in Angola. A town protector because of its tick walls and encrusted cannons and a major outlet for slave traffic to Brazil.
Nowadays inside the fort elaborate ceramic tiles tell the story of Angola from early years, and in the courtyard are large, imposing statues of Portugal's first king, the first European to reach Angola, Diogo Cão, renowned explorer Vasco da Gama and other notables.
The museum's collection also includes twin-engine aircraft, tanks, various weapons and artifacts used during the War of Independence (1961-1974) and the Civil War (1975-2002) that followed.
Cathedral Of The Holy Saviour
Built in 1628, the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour is the Roman Catholic Church of Luanda. The beautiful architecture of the cathedral make it extra special, and today is where the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Luanda is.
Visit The National Bank Of Angola
This amazing building may look like a palace because of its colonial architecture, but is actually home to the National Bank of Angola. Located in the centre of the city, the pink building is stunning by day, but lights up and becomes spectacular at night.
Coin Museum
The newest museum in Luanda. Located next to the emblematic National Bank of Angola.
It has an excellent exhibition, arranged chronologically on the evolution of the Angolan currency that is intrinsically linked to the history of the country.
A trip to the capital wouldn't be complete without pausing to soak up a bit of the Atlantic. The Ilha de Luanda is a narrow peninsula that hooks around and parallels the mainland, forming the Luanda Bay. Here you can find restaurants, hotels, casinos and nightclubs. Luanda has a vibrant and interesting nightlife. It has many bars & nightclubs in various streets of the city. Some of them even offer theater & small cinema shows.The music will vary from Brazilian to Caribbean, Afro sounds and much more making it almost impossible for you to resist dance floor even if you are a non-dancer.
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