Luanda was founded in 1575 and was called São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda. It is the capital of Angola and the largest city of the republic.
Located on the Atlantic coast, it is the country's central seaport and has more than 6 million inhabitants along with the outskirts. It is also the capital of Luanda Province and the third most populous Portuguese-speaking metropolis in the world, after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the most populous Portuguese-speaking capital in the world, ahead of Brasilia, Maputo and Lisbon.
The country's troubled history of colonisation and development is reflected in its architecture. The old buildings, built during the colonists' time using the natural materials available in the region - local wood, different types of clay and nearby quarried stone - have an unconventional flavour not found elsewhere. In 1618 the Portuguese built the Fortaleza São Pedro da Barra fortress, and later built two more: the Fortaleza de São Miguel (1634) and the Forte de São Francisco do Penedo.
Characteristic features of colonial architecture can be seen in the well-preserved Fort São Miguel, the buildings of the Luanda University. In the city centre you can see the Jesuit Church and the Madonna of Nazareth Church from the 16th-17th century, the Carmelite Church from the mid-17th century. The former governor's residence is also an attraction. Portuguese culture has left its mark on Luanda's stylistic design in the form of mosaic-paved ancient pavements.
The city is currently undergoing a major renovation that is changing its appearance.
