UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe has 1 site on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1 cultural), the first inscribed in 2026 (The Roças of Sao Tome and Principe: Colonial Agricultural System and Forced Migration). The map below plots it alongside the rest of the List, and each site is written up in full further down the page.
- World Heritage Sites
- 1
- Cultural
- 1
- Natural and Mixed
- 0
- First Inscribed
- 2026
Map of World Heritage Sites in Sao Tome and Principe
CulturalNaturalMixedIn DangerLarge dots are in Sao Tome and Principe. Click a dot to read about the site.

The Roças of Sao Tome and Principe: Colonial Agricultural System and Forced Migration
Sao Tome and Principe · 0.3173° N, 6.4984° E · 1 km² · 26 km from São Tomé
The serial property comprises six geographically separate roças (Portuguese colonial agricultural plantations) located on the islands of Sao Tome and Principe: Monte Café, Agua Izé, Diogo Vaz, Sao Joao, Sundy, and Belo Monte. Together, they represent a planned colonial plantation system dedicated primarily to coffee and cocoa production, combining agricultural land, industrial infrastructure, residential areas, and social facilities within highly structured spatial layouts. The property illustrates the operation of a large-scale colonial agro-industrial system, based on forced migration and labour, from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, to sustain global commodity production after the abolition of slavery.
Description from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
Why The Roças of Sao Tome and Principe: Colonial Agricultural System and Forced Migration Is Listed
- (iv)
- An outstanding example of a type of building or landscape.
World Heritage in Sao Tome and Principe: Quick Answers
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Sao Tome and Principe has 1 World Heritage Site: 1 cultural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The Roças of Sao Tome and Principe: Colonial Agricultural System and Forced Migration, inscribed in 2026.
- Are any World Heritage Sites in Sao Tome and Principe in danger?
- None of the World Heritage Sites in Sao Tome and Principe is on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.