São Tomé

From Freepedia

São Tomé (population 53,300 in 2003) is the capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe and is by far the nation's largest town. It was founded by Portugal in 1485 and is centred on a sixteenth century cathedral. Another early building is Fort São Sebastião, built in 1575 and now the São Tomé National Museum. It was the then colony's capital until 1753 and has been the national capital continuously since 1852. Its name is Portuguese for "Saint Thomas." São Tomé is located at 0°20' North, 6°44' East (0.333, 6.7333). [1]

Features of the town include the Presidential Palace, the Fisherman's Church, and a cinema. The city is also home to two markets, a radio station, hospital and international airport and is known for the Tchiloli play. It is also the centre of the island's road and bus networks.

Important as a port, São Tomé lies on Ana Chaves Bay in the north east of São Tomé Island. Cabras Island lies in the bay.

Around 1493 the government of Portugal took Jewish children from their parents and shipped them to São Tomé. Few of these children survived, many being devoured by lizards and succumbing to hunger.

Other

São Tomé has schools, middle schools, high schools, churches, a beach, an airport, São Tomé and Príncipe's only hospital and a television station RFI, radio stations and squares (praças)

Capitals of São Tomé and Príncipe	Image:Sao tome and principe flag large.png
Provincial Capitals of São Tomé and Príncipe
Santo António | São Tomé
District Capitals of São Tomé and Príncipe
Guadalupe | Neves | Santana | Santo António | São João dos Angolares | São Tomé | Trindade