A small capital on the Geba estuary
Bissau sits on the estuary of the Geba River and is one of the most relaxed capitals in West Africa. Its old colonial quarter, Bissau Velho, has faded Portuguese buildings, and the Fortaleza de São José da Amura dates from the 18th century. The Pidjiguiti Memorial remembers the dockworkers killed during a 1959 strike. The carnival in February brings masks and parades from across the country. Boats leave from the harbour for the Bijagós Islands.