Picão (Hills)

Picão (Hills) is the broad hill country around the mountain settlement of Picão on Príncipe and lies between 300 and 600 meters elevation in a transitional climate between lowland rainforest and mountain cloud forest. The cool, fresh air and regular rainfall create good conditions for cultivating rare spices: aromatic allspice (Pimenta dioica), cinnamon, nutmeg and pimenta-da-terra grow in small, shaded mixed cultures here, with the produce sold in the capital at premium prices. Birdwatchers prize the region as a hotspot for mountain birds: the Príncipe white-eye, the Príncipe sunbird and the rare São Tomé spear-bill occur here in particularly dense populations. Trails crisscross the hills and offer viewpoints onto the island's phonolith towers and the Atlantic coast, a unique interplay of clouds, light and tropical vegetation.

Nearby cities

Picão

Picão is a place of colors and dense green hidden in the mountainous hinterland of Príncipe.

Sundy (Coast)

The coastal part of Sundy is a place of wide beaches and deep blue sea where the Atlantic reveals its full beauty.

Belo Monte (Hinterland)

This part of Belo Monte leads deeper into the untamed interior of Príncipe where the forest giants darken the sky.

Paciência (Coast)

The coastal part of Paciência is a place of gentle bays and rhythmic sea sounds where time seems to stand still on the golden beaches.

São Joaquim

São Joaquim is a historic hamlet in the heart of Príncipe where ruins of an old Roça tell of the power of time.

Santo António

Santo António, the charming capital of Príncipe Island, is a town gently nestled on the banks of the Palhota River.

Sundy

Sundy is a place of science and stars nestled in the gentle plains of northern Príncipe.

Paciência (Upper Village)

The upper village of Paciência lies at the foot of Príncipe's steep mountains, a place of cool mornings and deep silence.

São Joaquim (Forest Edge)

The forest edge of São Joaquim is a place of transition where civilization shakes hands with the dense Obô jungle.

Belo Monte

Belo Monte perches on a headland in northeastern Príncipe, offering arguably the most breathtaking view of the entire archipelago.

Paciência

Paciência lies on the edge of Príncipe's rainforests, a place where the name says it all and nature's tranquility heals the soul.

Belo Monte (Coast)

The coastal part of Belo Monte is a place of dramatic cliffs and azure sea where the Atlantic reveals its full primal force.

Abade

Abade is a fishing village on the northeast coast of Príncipe where the Atlantic rolls ashore with a rare gentleness.

Abade (North)

The northern part of Abade is a place of wide horizons and maritime freedom where the gaze wanders boundlessly over the Atlantic.

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Nova Estrela

Nova Estrela sits like a sparkling jewel on the cliffs of Príncipe's east coast, a place of new hope and wide horizons.

History & landmarks

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is the religious landmark of Santo António on Príncipe.

Port of Santo António

The small but vital Port of Santo António is the logistical backbone of Príncipe Island.

Regional Government Palace

The Regional Government Palace in Santo António is the administrative center of the autonomous region of Príncipe.

Santo António Market

The Santo António Market on Príncipe Island is a colorful meeting place where local products from the rainforest and the sea are offered.

Ponta da Mina Lighthouse

The Ponta da Mina Lighthouse is located at the eastern tip of the Santo António Bay on Príncipe.

Eddington Monument

The Eddington Monument at Roça Sundy commemorates the 1919 scientific expedition during which Sir Arthur Eddington proved Einstein's theo…

More places

Ilhéu Bom Bom

Ilhéu Bom Bom is a small, green pearl off the north coast of Príncipe, connected to the main island by a long wooden walkway.

Logistics Port of Santo António

The logistics port of Santo António is Príncipe Island's only maritime link to the outside world.

Fort of Santo António da Ponta da Mina

This fort was built in the 17th century to protect the bay of Santo António on Príncipe from maritime attacks.

Roça Ribeira Izé

Ribeira Izé was the site of the first settlement on Príncipe Island.

Príncipe Children's Leisure Center

The children's leisure center in Santo António is the hub for play and education for the children on Príncipe Island.

Roça Porto Real

Located on Príncipe Island, Porto Real was one of the most powerful plantations in the archipelago.

Pico Bastião

Pico Bastião is a distinctive geological formation on Príncipe Island.

Roça Infante D. Henrique

This plantation on Príncipe, named after the famous Portuguese prince, stands out for its well-preserved administrative buildings.