Maputo (formerly Lourenso Marques), is one of Africa's most attractive capitals. Maputo is a great place to listen to live music, dine on phenomenal fresh prawns in pili-pili sauce or simply wander through an art gallery or two. It's set on a small cliff overlooking Maputo Bay, with wide avenues lined by jacaranda and flame trees, a plethora of pleasant sidewalk cafes and a relaxed atmosphere. For decades, the city's charms were overshadowed, first by colonialism, then by war, and it's only recently that the city has come into its own. Today Maputo is a lively, bustling place with colourful markets, intriguing architecture, a wealth of cultural offerings, and great nightlife.