Picão

Picão is a remote mountain village in the rugged interior of Príncipe Island, positioned among the characteristic phonolith towers that make Príncipe internationally known as the „island of frozen volcanoes“. The village began as an outpost of a small roça cultivating Cinchona, the source of quinine bark used against malaria, a heritage still alive today in small organic plots. Picão lies in the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is home to an unusually diverse population of endemic parrots, including the Príncipe gray parrot and the rare Príncipe glossy starling. Constantly high humidity and a dense canopy create an almost magical atmosphere where orchids and giant ferns thrive. The most demanding hikes of the island, such as the climb to Pico do Príncipe (948 m), start from here and partly require rope safety, a paradise for nature photographers and mountain trekkers.

Nearby cities

Picão (Hills)

The Picão hills are an oasis of green where clouds often gently brush the canopy of the forest giants.

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.

São Joaquim (Forest Edge)

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

Santo António

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

Sundy (Coast)

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

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.

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.

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 (Hinterland)

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

Belo Monte

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

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.

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.

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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.

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.

Regional Government Palace

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

Port of Santo António

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

Eddington Monument

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

Ponta da Mina Lighthouse

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

More places

Roça Porto Real

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

Logistics Port of Santo António

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

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.

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.

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.

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.