Sao Tome: Sao Tome – Forte de São Sebastião
São Tomé is a former Portuguese colony that went independent in 1975 (one of the smallest and little known countries in the world). Forte de São Sebastião is a historic Portuguese fort built on the island of São Tomé in 1575. The fort is relatively small and square faced but quite impressive with four towers and standing on the promontory with ocean waves underneath three of its sides. Outside of the fort stand three statues of the discoverers of the São Tomé island – João de Santarém, Pêro Escobar, and João de Paiva (the statues were moved from the squares of the city of São Tomé after independence from Portugal so as not to remind the residents of the colonial past). There are historic museums inside the fort and spectacular panoramic views from the top. Locals come to the beach by the fort in droves to swim, picnic, and hang out. Further away from the fort is the shore with great sandy beaches.
