Historic site
In Ghana, West Africa
Elmina Castle in pictures.
Built by the Portuguese in 1482, Elmina Castle is the oldest surviving European structure in sub-Saharan Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that later became a major slave-trading post. Its thick whitewashed walls, courtyards, and dungeons stand above a bustling harbour where colourful pirogues still crowd the shore. A guided tour offers a sobering and unforgettable history lesson.