Officially name: Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Capital: São Tomé
Largest city: São Tomé
Official language: Portuguese
Government: Democratic semi-presidential Republic
Although São Tomé has a rich and diverse culture, there are not many festivals to this effect. However, there are many public holidays which travelers should take note of, such as Independence Day, which celebrates the nation’s hard-fought sovereignty, and Labor Day, which commemorates all of the workers who have made the country great. On these days, the country generally shuts down and public amenities are closed.
The little-discovered islands of São Tomé e Príncipe provide unspoiled beauty and isolation from the world now rarely found anywhere else. The islands lie on an alignment of once-active volcanoes, with rugged landscapes, dense forests and palm-fringed beaches, 250km (155 miles) off the coast of West Africa.