Island of Mozambique


World Heritage Identification Number: 599

World Heritage since: 1991

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇲🇿 Mozambique

Continent: Africa

UNESCO World Region: Africa

Map

The Island of Mozambique: A Unique Blend of African and European Architecture

The Island of Mozambique, situated off the northeastern coast of modern-day Mozambique, offers a captivating fusion of African and European architectural styles that has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1991. This small island, nestled between the Mozambique Channel and Mossuril Bay within Nampula Province, boasts a rich history dating back to the 1500s when it served as a significant Portuguese trading post en route to India.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The fortified city of Mozambique is located on this island, a former Portuguese trading-post on the route to India. Its remarkable architectural unity is due to the consistent use, since the 16th century, of the same building techniques, building materials (stone or macuti) and decorative principles.

Encyclopedia Record: Island of Mozambique

The Island of Mozambique lies off northern Mozambique, between the Mozambique Channel and Mossuril Bay, and is part of Nampula Province. Prior to 1898, it was the capital of colonial Portuguese East Africa.

Read more on Wikipedia

Additional Site Details

Area: 95.7 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: -15.03417 , 40.73583

Image

Image of Island of Mozambique

© Rosino, CC BY-SA 2.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

About World Heritage Explorer

World Heritage Explorer is an independent educational project designed to uncover and share the richness of our world’s cultural and natural heritage. Dive into detailed site profiles, immersive imagery, interactive maps, and tools that help you explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the globe. Drawing extensively on open data sources, the project delivers authoritative, well-structured information for learners, educators, travelers, and younger explorers alike.

Learn more

Nearby World Heritage Sites

Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape
553 km — Malawi
Andrefana Dry Forests
589 km — Madagascar
Lake Malawi National Park
640 km — Malawi
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
688 km — United Republic of Tanzania
Chongoni Rock-Art Area
708 km — Malawi

Country Information: Mozambique

Flag of Mozambique

Official Name: Republic of Mozambique

Capital: Maputo

Continent: Africa

Population (2024): 34,631,766

Population (2023): 33,635,160

Population (2022): 32,656,246

Land Area: 786,380 sq km

Currency: Mozambican metical (MZN)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Island of Mozambique are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Island of Mozambique, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

Open Data for an Open World