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Art & Architecture Walking Tour: Explore Maputo's Best Artistic and Architectural Wonders

4.8

17 Ratings

Maputo

Discover the artistic and architectural wonders of Maputo on a captivating walking tour. Explore Art Deco buildings, Pancho Guedes' masterpieces, Gonçalo Mabunda's unique sculptures, and more!

Duration: 3 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Museu De Historia Natural de Maputo - 1- Natural history Museum (starting point): located in the Praça Travessia do Zambeze, the museum used to be called Museu Álvaro de Castro and was built in 1931 – 1933 in neo – Manueline (a kind of Portuguese gothic style ) by the municipal engineer António Ribeiro de Mendonça. The original idea had been to build a school. Worth mentioning are the collection of elephant fetuses aged 1 month to 20 months and realistic wildlife scenes (e.g. lioness tearing a zebra carcass), both are to be found in the big room downstairs. Taxidermist Peão Lopes made them, and nowadays they seem a bit dusty and not the state of the art. The elephant fetuses are said to be result of land clearance south of Maputo in the early 20th century during which around 2000 elephants were killed. There are also two rooms of traditional African art. Around the building threre are the annexes, built by architect João José Tinoco, in 1965. They are decorated with two mural paintings by Malangatana, one was painted in 1977/79 in two phases and depicts yhe fight of man in nature; the other was painted in 1989. In the workshop annex (onto which the first mural is painted) is the atelier of famous Makonde pottery artist Reinata Sadimba who works here weekdays. It is one of the most exciting and authentic experiences in Maputo to see her at work. The prime minister of the time Pascoal Mocumbi and many others invited her to come to Maputo and work in the Museum.

What's Included

Bottled water included
All fees and taxes covered

What's Not Included

Alcoholic Beverages

Additional Information

Maputo Art & Architecture Tour it’s a tour for those who are most interested in art and architecture the best option is the Art & architecture walking tour, where we can see the best of Maputo’s art and architecture

from Art deco buildings to the ones of Pancho Guedes;
from chairs and planes made out of guns and bullets by Gonçalo Mabunda to the artesans in FEIMA.

Location

Museu de Historia Natural

Travessia de Zambeze

In front Office the Natural History Museum

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.8

(17 Ratings)

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1 star

Pinky_h

Apr 27, 2024

Many knowledge from the guide about he architecture in Maputo - Great tour with tour guide - Walter , nice and have many history and story about Maputo , And he will reply all my questions about here .

Review provided by Viator

S7326twingridk

Mar 5, 2024

Waan je terug in het verleden en merk het verschil in het heden. - Hi, everything was fine. He is a good tour operator. He knows very much about the history of Mozambique 🇲🇿. He was very friendly and clear with all the explanation to me. It’s a pitty the musea was closed. He put up with the lack of that. Everything straight. So he will get a 10+ from me 👌🏽