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Sao Tome is the capital of Sao Tome and Principe, two volcanic islands and
some smaller islets some 150 miles off the coast of Gabon believed to have
first been discovered by Portuguese explorers around 1470. The Portuguese settled the town of Sao
Tome in 1485 as a port in Ana Chaves Bay in the north-east of the island
however this first settlement proved to be unviable due to disease and lack of
food to sustain the community. Further attempts at settlement proved more
successful towards the end of the 15th century with many of these settlers
being deemed expendable as undesirables' from Portugal including orphans, criminals and
even Jewish children taken from their parents to be raised as Christians.
Despite a disregard as to whether they survived or not, they did so and
started producing sugar in such quantities that by the end of the following
century the island was the world's largest sugar producer. This was achieved
not least because its proximity to the African coast made it an ideal source
of cheap slave labour to man the sugar plantations. As the sugar trade
declined facing fierce competition from Brazil and then the abolition of the
slave trade damaged Sao Tome's economy further, Portugal introduced coffee and
cocoa as new crops to stain the population.
Today the town of Sao Tome, with its population of around 53,300 (2021) remains the islands' largest population centre and retains its Portuguese
architecture. With an international airport just a couple of miles north of
the town, and a weekly ferry to Cape Verde, it's an ideal base to visit the 16th century Fort Sao Sebastiao (above) on
Praca de Juventude built as a colonial fort and now the island's national
museum exploring the town and island's history. Visitors can also take in the
walkways along the sea front, the Presidential Palace, the sixteenth century
cathedral, Fisherman's Church, Municipal Market and Independence Square.
Sao Tome Profile: Volunteer in Sao Tome and Principe
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Sao Tome Profile: Sao Tome City Map
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Sao Tome Profile: Sao Tome and Principe Child Sponsor
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Sao Tome Profile: Sao Tome and Principe Profile
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