Seychelles Tourist Guide
A group of 115 granite and coral islands in the Indian Ocean,
the Seychelles are a luxury vacation paradise of shimmering ivory
sandy beaches and magnificent sapphire sea-water lagoons. The
islands have extraordinary natural beauty, much of it untouched by
modern development. The main island, Mah?, is home to the
international airport and the capital city, Victoria. The Inner
Islands are the hub of commercial life and the tourism facilities.
The Outer Islands are low-lying coral atolls and reef islands,
remote and undeveloped.
The islands were colonised by the French in 1770 and later
handed over to British rule. The Seychelles became an independent
republic within the Commonwealth in 1976. The population is
multi-ethnic, reflecting the influx of seafarers, explorers and
traders who settled in the islands down the centuries.
French and British colonial heritage is evident in the design of
houses, and local Creole music and dance have their roots in
African and European cultures. For a small country, the Seychelles
has a big tradition of art; painting and sculpture are major
activities along with craft work using natural materials like sea
shells, coconut husks and bamboo.
The Seychelles has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Aldabra, the
world's largest raised coral atoll, and Vallée de Mai on Praslin
Island, once revered as the original Garden of Eden.
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