The Casa das Artes, Criação, Ambiente e Utopias (House of the Arts, Creativity, Environment and Utopias) is an ambitious attempt to create a true cultural centre in the capital. Located in a huge warehouse, it has various elements: a restaurant/cafe/bar, an exhibition space, a crafts shop, and a stage/movie theater. It can be very quiet, however, without a special event going on. See 'Events' on its Facebook page.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby São Tomé attractions

1. São Sebastião & Museu Nacional

0.19 MILES

São Sebastião is a small fort that houses the national museum, a few rooms of artifacts simply presented. The eclectic, somewhat decaying collection, in…

2. Presidential Palace

0.46 MILES

It's hard to miss the huge pink presidential palace, which faces the cathedral, but unfortunately it is not open to the public. Two bored guards do a…

3. Nossa Senhora da Graça Cathedral

0.51 MILES

While fairly humble as cathedrals go, the Nossa Senhora da Graça is one of Africa's oldest, and a testimony to persistence, as it has been destroyed and…

4. Mercado Grande

0.69 MILES

Alternately fascinating and repellent, the Mercado Grande is divided into two cavernous and adjacent halls, the Mercado Municipal and the newer, and…

5. Claudio Corallo Chocolate Factory

0.83 MILES

Claudio Corallo is both an extraordinary person and a local institution. For over 40 years this native Italian has pursued an overriding passion for…

6. Roça Bela Vista

3.46 MILES

While this roça (plantation) is modest in size, its buildings are in very good condition relative to those found elsewhere, and include the large manager…

7. Roça Agostinho Neto

6.65 MILES

Once the grandest plantation in STP, Agostinho Neto is now the grandest symbol of its decline. The impressive entrance, a wide boulevard leading to the…

8. Ilhéu de Santana

7.21 MILES

This interesting island, which faces Santana Resort, is unique in that a natural tunnel runs straight through the centre of it. Boat trips operated by the…