Things to see in The Cape Coast

Cape Coast is a place with a fascinating history Holiday Crash pads spain . Set around the rocky promontory that protects the bay, the city climbs up the steep hills surrounding the centre, colonial architecture, from the early 1800s is evidence of the city's past. The magnificent Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, looms over the crashing waves, from the battlements a row of black cannons point towards non-existent ship borne enemies.

Known as Oguaa and already a settlement and market, the Portuguese bought the plot of land in the early 1600s and built a castle for their trading post. Changing hands between Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, the Castle changed and grew. In 1664 it fell to the English, and became the administrative centre of the Gold Coast. So it remained until 1877, when the capital was moved to Accra.

Cape Coast Castle, with its peeling, white painted exterior, was built to protect timber, ebony and gold, but it rapidly became the centre of the slave trade. This is a deeply impressive place. Thousands of slaves languished in dreadful conditions in the dungeons here, traded for guns, tobacco and beads, before being shipped to the New World. There is an excellent museum in the castle, and guided tours that are both illuminating and moving. From either end of the battlements two other historic forts can be seen: in all, some 60 forts and trading posts were built along this coast.

Cape Coast was the birthplace of the country's first newspapers, and of the nationalism that finally won its independence. Today it is Ghana's centre of excellence in education, and something of a resort town, with splendid beaches nearby.

Accra Accra, lying on the Gulf of Guinea, is Ghana's capital and everything you would expect of a large West African city with a colonial past. The country's administrative and economic centre, it is crowded, noisy, lively, colourful and full of friendly people. It has elegant colonial architecture, modern buildings made of steel and glass, and lively, shambolic shanty towns on the outskirts.

The site of Accra was first settled by the Ga people in the late 16th century, as a series of villages. The Portuguese, British, Danish and Dutch built fortified trading posts nearby, all of which have been subsumed into the inexorably spreading city. In 1877, having already bought up all the trading rights, the British made Accra the capital of their Gold Coast Colony, which lasted until Ghana gained independence in 1957 the first African colony to do so.

The National Museum is a great place in which to refresh your knowledge of Ghana's history. Its spectacular display of ethnography and art is one of the best in West Africa. This may spur you on to buy a piece of contemporary art or jewellery, which you can find in the Centre for National Culture with its permanent national collection, artworks for sale and many craft stalls.

The 17th century Christiansborg Castle, built by the Danes, is the seat of government, close to the liveliest part of the city, Osu. The oldest neighbourhood, Jamestown, is still a large, active fishing harbour, where gailypainted boats arrive with their catches of still flapping fish, scales glinting silver, pink and yellow in the early morning sun. Climb up the lighthouse and admire the views. Accra is more of a 'now' city than a monument to the past. Its fantastic, jampacked markets are a hive of activity, the nightlife, music, drumming and dancing is exciting, and if you need a break, you can always go to the beach.

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