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Praca Independence Praça da Independência, Maputo

3.3
#3 of 6 in Historic Sites in Maputo
Historic Walking Area · Landmark
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Praça da Independência (English: Independence Square) is a public square and focal point of Maputo, Mozambique. It was built by the Portuguese as Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque (Mouzinho de Albuquerque Square) and was dominated by a statue of Mouzinho de Albuquerque, the former governor-general of Portuguese Mozambique. The statue of Mouzinho on horseback was inaugurated in 1940. After the independence of Mozambique in 1975 the square was renamed Praça da Independência, and the statue of Mouzinho de Albuquerque was removed to Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição and replaced by a statue of Samora Machel (1933-1986), the first president of Mozambique. The square is now dominated by the much larger Samora Machel Statue, which was built and dedicated in 2011.

Praça da Independência is flanked to the north by the Maputo City Hall and to the east by Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Iron House, designed by Gustave Eiffel for the governor of Mozambique, is located just off the square. Tunduru Gardens, designed in 1885 by British gardener Thomas Honney, is located one block south of the square.
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Praca Independence Praça da Independência reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating 3.5
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  • What an ugly square! With that ridiculous statue in the middle and the "palace" behind it that's way past the possibility of restauring it.... 
    What an ugly square! With that ridiculous statue in the middle and the "palace" behind it that's way past the possibility of restauring it....  more »
  • Once the center of Portugese colonial power in Southern Africa, this huge square has lost significance as the modern center shifted more towards the southeast and north parts of the city. As with... 
    Once the center of Portugese colonial power in Southern Africa, this huge square has lost significance as the modern center shifted more towards the southeast and north parts of the city. As with...  more »
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  • Renamed in 1975 after Mozambique won its independence from the Portuguese, the square is dominated by a large statue of the country’s first president, Samora Machel, who died in a mysterious plane crash. On the north side of the square, look for the neoclassical city hall. To its east, the Art Deco Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, which resembles a wedding cake and was consecrated in 1944, is impossible to miss. Nearby, the French-Mozambican Cultural Center hosts everything from jazz performances to art exhibitions, and the Tunduru Botanical Gardens, a few blocks away, are worth visiting for some shade from the African sun
  • Culturally rich ,vibrant space in the busy vibrant city center with lots of historical buildings , beautiful architecture, museums art centers and other tourist attractions ! Definitely worth seeing and exploring if you are visiting Maputo

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