Casa das Conchas

Northern Mozambique


There's no mistaking how the house of shells (sometimes called the Cowrie House) got its name. The whole facade is covered in them and they make a unique and attractive mosaic. The house sells a small selection of crafts, including locally made silver, and is a good place to taste a cup of smooth, low-caffeine Ibo coffee (Mtc50).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Northern Mozambique attractions

1. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário

0.2 MILES

Ibo might be 99% Muslim, but its most striking religious building is this whitewashed, weather-worn Catholic church that anchors the main square, a legacy…

2. Fort of São José

0.23 MILES

Of the three forts on Ibo, the Fort of São José near the boat dock is the oldest, dating from 1760. It ceased to have any military use once the larger…

3. Fort of São João Baptista

0.28 MILES

At the island’s northern end is the star-shaped Fort of São João Baptista, built in 1791 and designed to accommodate up to 300 people. When Ibo was linked…

4. Parque Nacional das Quirimbas

9.25 MILES

The Quirimbas National Park contains most of the southern Quirimbas islands (including Ibo, Medjumbe and Matemo) along with a large tract of coastal…