Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles and the largest city of the island nation, is a paradise for tourists dreaming of a beautiful beach holiday on the ocean shore. Located on Mahé, the largest island of the Seychelles, by Russian standards it is a very small city – it has only 24 970 inhabitants. However, in any season, the port of Victoria attracts tourists from all over the world, who are not frightened by the long flight to this wonderful land, where tropical trees grow within the city, and secluded beaches give the opportunity to forget about the existence of humanity on Earth for a while.
Founded in 1841, the port was named after Queen Victoria. Despite its seclusion, it has an airport, museums, a university, and of course, comfortable hotels and luxurious restaurants. Perhaps the main attraction of Victoria is the Clock Tower, modeled after the English «Big Ben» and painted silver. In addition, the monument «Zom lib» is noteworthy, the name of which means «free man». This monument was erected in honor of the socialist revolution that took place in 1977.
The most interesting museum in Victoria is the National Museum, whose exposition tells about the history and stages of development of the Seychelles. One of the exhibits – the «stone of possession» – symbolizes French power over the islands; it was erected here in 1756. There are also the Historical Museum, the Museum of Natural History and others. As you can see, there is plenty to do and see here, despite the modest size of the town.
For those who wish to appreciate the diversity of local nature, there is an opportunity to visit the Mont Fleuri Botanical Garden, where on an area of 6 hectares grow more than 200 species of plants, many of which can only be seen in the Seychelles. And to get acquainted with the way of life of local residents, it is worth visiting the Center for Applied Arts and Crafts, where you will be taught to make original souvenirs from bamboo twigs, palm leaves and coconut shells, which you can take with you as a souvenir of your stay in the Seychelles.
Victoria is a truly unique place; there are no skyscrapers, and the height of most houses does not exceed two stories. Most residents speak English fluently, so you will have no problems during your stay here. Or, as an alternative, you could choose a vacation in the Maldives, islands consisting of a group of atolls – coral islands. In any case, such a vacation will allow you to detach from the outside world, forget about problems and the hustle and bustle of the big city, and give you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of pristine nature in all its diversity.
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