Luanda, Angola

Founded in 1575 as Sao Paulo de Loanda by 400 Portuguese soldiers and 100 families, Luanda now has a population of approximately four to five million.

Upheavals during the civil war caused large-scale migration to the city but Luanda was by no means untouched by the conflict. For 27 years, Luanda was the scene of sporadic bursts of violence leaving many of the buildings riddled with bullet holes.

Luanda is now returning to its former glory. Skyscrapers and cranes along the skyline testify to the city's renaissance. International construction companies are transforming the city.

The numerous housing projects for the rich and the poor are struggling to keep up with demand as more and more Angolans are lifting themselves out of poverty. Roads are resurfaced and power and telecommunications networks are expanding across the city.

Luanda is Angola's premier business center housing almost all of the government institutions, foreign embassies, banks and multinational company headquarters.

Just off Luanda's bay on the Atlantic Ocean is the Cape Island, commonly referred to simply as "the Island". In fact a road connects the island to the mainland now but the 7km long thin stretch of land is home to many of Luanda's main attractions.

The island's beautiful sandy beaches are lined with bars, restaurants, nightclubs and hotels. For those seeking some culture, Luanda has several museums, including the National Museum of Slavery, National Museum of Anthropology and the National Museum of Natural History of Angola.

Beautiful churches built hundreds of years ago by the Portuguese survived Angola's conflicts. Galleries, theatres and concert halls showcase Angola's artistic talents.

www.Angola-Today.com is the first comprehensive website offering users a multimedia editorial guide to Angola in the English language. It aims to be the primary source of objective and current information for visitors and investors. The website hopes to facilitate the realisation of Angola's fantastic potential by providing both snapshots and in-depth guides to the country's key industries and growth areas.

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