How did Sao Tome and Principe get their names?

The two, uninhabited, volcanic islands, that formed this nation, were founded by Portuguese navigators who arrived on Sao Tome on the feast day of Saint Thomas, in 1471.  Principe was originally discovered on St. Anthony’s Day, in 1472 and initially was named Santo Antao.  In 1502, the name was changed to Ilha do Principe or Prince’s Island, after the Portuguese prince who received the islands’ sugar crop duties.  The rich volcanic soil was ideal for setting up plantations to grow sugar.

Where is Sao Tome and Principe located?

The two islands are about 31 miles (or 50 km) apart and are located in the Atlantic Ocean, in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the equator.  The closest neighbor is the West African nation of Gabon, about 186 miles or (300 km) away to the northeast.  The islands are part of the Cameroon volcanic, mountain line.  Sao Tome is about 30 miles long and 20 miles wide and is the more mountainous of the two islands.  Its tallest peak reaches 6,640 feet but its most famous peak is Pico Cao Grande; a landmark, skyscraper like, volcanic plug, which is also known as the Great Dog Peak.  It rises over 1000 feet above the surrounding terrain, with the summit being 2175 feet above sea level.  The islands feature striking rock and coral formations, lush tropical rainforests and beautiful beaches.  The climate is hot and humid, with an average temperature of 80 degrees.  The rainy season is between October and May, and annual rainfall can vary from 40 inches to 196 inches.

A Brief History of Sao Tome and Principe

The islands were discovered without any inhabitants.  The Portuguese discoverers felt the islands would be good locations for bases to trade with the mainland.  The first successful settlement of Sao Tome was established in 1493 by Alvaro Caminha, who received a land grant from the crown.  Principe was established seven years later, in 1500.  One problem they faced was attracting settlers.  So the first inhabitants, who were deemed “undesirables,” sent from Portugal, were mostly Jews.  Slave labor was brought in later, in large numbers, from the African mainland to work the sugar plantations.  By the mid-16^th century the Portuguese settlers had turned the islands into Africa’s largest exporter of sugar.  The islands were taken over and administered by the Portuguese crown, in 1522 for Sao Tome and then in 1573 for Principe.

Competition from other sugar producing colonies began to hurt the islands.  Sugar cultivation started to decline over the next 100 years.  In the 17^th century, the islands economy changed and was instead a transit point for ships engaged in the slave trade between the West and the African mainland.

In the 19^th century, two new crops, coffee and cocoa, were introduced.  It didn’t take long for numerous new plantations, called rocas, to occupy almost all of the good, rich volcanic farmland.  The rocas were mostly owned by Portuguese companies or absentee landlords. By 1908, Sao Tome became the world’s largest producer of the highly sought after cocoa, which remains an important crop today.

Unfortunately, the system of rocas, led to abuses against the African farm workers.  Although slavery was officially abolished in 1876 by the Portuguese, the practice of forced paid labor continued.  Years of uprisings eventually culminated into what is known as the “Batepa massacre,” which was a clash between African workers and their Portuguese rulers.   Several hundred African laborers were killed in the massacre.  This was a major turning point in 1953, which later became a memorial, observed each year on February 3^rd, by the government.

Sao Tome and Principe achieved peaceful independence on July 12, 1975.  In 1990, Sao Tome became one of the first countries to undergo democratic reform.  They held non-violent, free and transparent elections.  Although the country has had a few uprisings since that time, it has a reputation for being a safe and democratic society, that functions under a multi-party system.

Sao Tome and Principe Culture

The population of both islands is currently about 213,000.  All are descended from various ethnic groups that have migrated to the islands since 1485.  There are six different groups:  Mestizo, or mixed heritage is the first group, and are descendants of Portuguese colonists and African slaves.  They are considered the “Children of the Land.”  Angolares, are descendants of Angolan slaves, who survived a shipwreck in 1540.  Today most Angolares earn their livelihood as fisherman.  Forros, are descendants of freed slaves.  Servicas are contract laborers, who lived only temporarily on the islands.  Tongas, are the children of Servicas, who were born on the islands.  Europeans, mostly Portuguese, and some Asians, make up the balance of the population.

Due to its diverse population Sao Tome and Principe have four official languages: Portuguese, Portuguese creole (called Forro), Angolar and Principense.  French, however, is learned in school and the country is a member of Francophonie.  Almost the entire population belongs to either Roman Catholic or Evangelical Protestant religions.  However, there are others religions practiced there because of the Freedom of Religion Act.

It is no surprise that music plays an important role.  Santomaen’s are known for ussua and socope rhythms, while Principe is home to the dexa beat.  It is believed that Portuguese ballroom music played an integral role in the development of these rhythms and dances, as well as musical traditions from various regions of Africa.   They are also known for tchiloli; a dramatic story told through music, dance and theatre.

Sao Tome and Principe Cuisine

The two biggest influences on the cuisine are their location and from the origin of the inhabitants.  African and Portuguese cuisines blend together into a wonderful fusion of flavors.  Of course, being islands, seafood plays an important role.  Fish is their main source of protein, which is often eaten with indigenous root crops.  Breadfruit and jackfruit are both very popular.  Other staple foods are beans, maize and cooked bananas (some seven varieties.)  Tropical fruits like pineapple, avocado, mango, bananas, soursop and things you have never seen, even in the most exotic produce section of your local market, also play significant roles.

Being a small, two-island nation, most of their food is imported from Portugal.  Calulu, is considered the national dish, which comprises smoked fish, palm oil and vegetables, along with peppers, to add spice.  Generally, they like their food with a little kick.  Many of their dishes are also flavored with local coffee; used like a spice, in sauces.  The national drink is palm wine, but they make a few beers and local rum as well.  Sao Tome, the capital with the same name, is home to the main market where imported items from Portugal such as sausages and salami stuffed in bread rolls can be found.  It is common to see grilled corn on sticks served as a popular street food.

So let’s eat a Sao Tome and Principe meal:

The Menu

Appetizer

Sanduiche de Salsicha (Sausage Sandwich)

Main Course

Matata (Clams in Port Wine)

Dessert

Banana Bolo (Banana Cake)

We set the scene with several of their staple ingredients: bananas, avocados, coffee and cocoa.  A palm leaf was placed to represent the tropical rainforests, along with a few exotic flowers and seashells.  A soccer ball was added, since soccer is the national sport, and a religious cross completed the scene.

The first course was one of my favorite things; a sausage sandwich.  Grilled linguica, is my “go to” Portuguese sausage and paired with a little mustard and bread, makes for a wonderful appetizer.  We enjoyed it with the famous Portuguese, Super Bock beer.

Our main course was called matata; a lovely clam dish cooked in port wine and served over steamed, white rice.  The dish was really quick and easy to make and was so delicious.  It was flavored with onion, tomato and spinach, with a touch of heat from red pepper flakes.  It also had a nice crunch from peanuts in the sauce.  It was a super easy, delightful dish that I will make often.

For dessert, we enjoyed banana bolo, or banana cake.  It is the topping that makes this dessert so amazing.  It is basically caramel, topped with banana pieces.  This was served slightly warm and was an absolute delight.  (Fair warning, you will want more than one piece.)  We savored this dessert with a robust cup of hot coffee.

As we say goodbye to this tiny, two-island nation, called Sao Tome and Principe, I leave you with  a saying that is heard all over the islands;  “Leve’ leve’,” which means, “Easy easy.”  It’s a simple saying that is good reminder to us to slow down, take our time, and enjoy all that life has to offer.

Until next time,

Leve’ leve’

Darlene Longacre

How did San Marino get its Name?

It is believed that Marinus, a Christian stonemason seeking refuge from religious persecution on Mount Titano, founded the state.  The story goes that shortly after Marinus was ordained a Deacon, in nearby Rimini, he was accused by an insane woman of being her estranged husband. So he fled to Mount Titano, to build a chapel and a monastery and live as a hermit.  From this community, the State of San Marino later grew.  Marinus was venerated to Saint Marinus by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.  The State’s national holiday is celebrated on his feast day/memorial day, September 3^rd, commemorating the day in 301 AD when he founded what became known as San Marino.

Where is San Marino Located?

San Marino is an enclave located on the slopes of Mount Titano, on the Adriatic side of central Italy between the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions.  It is landlocked and wholly surrounded by Italy.  It is one of the few remaining city-states that proliferated across Europe.  It has the distinction of being the world’s oldest sovereign state and constitutional republic ever recorded.  San Marino is Europe’s third smallest state and the world’s fifth smallest, after the Vatican, Monaco, Nauru and Tuvalu.  The whole Republic of San Marino is only 23.63 square miles.  The highest point of Mount Titano is 2457 feet above sea level and there are no bodies of water of any significant size.

A Brief History of San Marino

In the earliest days of its existence, its de facto independence was maintained because it was an inaccessible city state with no wealth to speak of and therefore absorbing it would be more trouble than it was worth.  So it was largely left untouched by the Romans and later the neighboring states.  In 1631, the Papal States which surrounded San Marino, formally recognized her independence.  This has lasted until the present day, despite being at times surrounded by a war zone.  Napoleon even left it alone because it was the oldest constitutional republic.  Garibaldi who was responsible for Italy’s unification granted San Marino’s wish to remain independent largely due to it being a safe haven for pro-unification refugees in the days leading up to unification.

During World War II, in 1944, San Marino was briefly occupied by German soldiers before they were run out by allied soldiers.

As of 2002, San Marino has used the Euro as its currency and does not have border patrol.  You can, however, pay to get a passport stamp at the tourism office, along with much sought after stamps.

The government of San Marino is unlike any other nation.  It does not have a prime minister or a king or a president.  For the head of state, they actually are headed by two Captain Regents, which are usually from two different parties. They are voted in by the Grand and General Council, which is where the true power lies.  The people elect the 60 council members who serve a five year term.  The practice of having dual rulers had been an old practice of Roman overlords, which they decided to retain, as it worked so well for them.

San Marino Culture

The people of San Marino are called Sammarinese.  They speak Italian.  The Republic is densely populated, with about 530 people per square mile.  The total population is around 33,000.  They take great pride in their heritage and roots, which can be traced back to ancient Rome.

Everything in San Marino has Italian features, from food, to fashion sense.  Like Italy, San Marino is a staunch Roman Catholic territory.  Over 95% of Sammarinese go to catholic churches and celebrate the customs and traditions set by the Vatican.

The Sammarinese also love their sports, especially soccer, basketball and volleyball.  Each of these sports has their own league but of the three, soccer is by far the most popular.  They also are fanatical about Formula One racing.  There used to be a San Marino Grand Prix that was held in Imola, Italy.  In 2007 the government decided to stop holding the race due to the bitter memories of the legendary Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger who both died at the San Marino Grand Prix races.

Despite living on a mountain slope the Sammarinese take pride in their healthy foods and long life span.  On average the Sammarinese, who have lived their lives in San Marino, have an average life span of 80 years.

Tourism is most important to San Marino’s GDP.  They welcome about 2 million visitors each year in their tiny Republic.

San Marino Cuisine

It is no surprise that Sammarinese cuisine takes its cues from Italy.  It has a Mediterranean flair emphasizing fresh and locally grown produce, Italian pasta and meats.  It is most similar to the Romagna region, where many dishes are shared. Yet the Sammarinese do have their own dishes as well.  Faglioni con le cotiche, is a soup that is made with Christmas beans and bacon.  Pasta e cece has chickpea noodles flavored with rosemary and garlic.  The Sammarinese are well known for their cheese making and olive oil pressing skills.  In fact, they had three exhibitions at the Paris world fair back in 1899.

Meals and the enjoyment of food is a large part of Sammarinese culture.  They also are very proud of their three towers, located on the three peaks of Monte Titano.  So it is not surprising that they named their desserts after them.  Torta Titano and Torta tre Monte, are just a couple of cakes inspired by them.

Of course wine is also prevalent in the region.  San Marino produces cask-aged, red and white wines.   They serve a Brugneto or Tessano, which are red wines, when red meat is on the menu.  If the main course is white meat or fish, Biancale or Roncale, which are white, are served.

So let’s enjoy a Sammarinese meal:

The Menu

Appetizer

Burrata Crustini (Cheese Toast)

Soup Course

Stracciatella Alla Romana (Egg Drop Soup)

Main Course

Nidi di Rondine (Swallows Nest Pasta)

Served with:

Conigilio al Forno con Finoccio (Roasted Rabbit and Fennel)

Dessert

Torta Tre Monti (Waffled Wafers with Hazelnut Cream)

We decorated with the colors of the San Marino flag; blue and white.  I placed three candles to represent the three towers of Monte Titano, along with oak and laurel branches that are on their Coat of Arms.  A cross and a stone completed the scene.

We began our meal by saying,  “Saluti” which means, “Cheers” as we toasted our glasses filled with Prosecco (an Italian sparkling wine.)  We savored our first course which was little pieces of toast with soft, creamy, burrata cheese.  (Burrata cheese is a fresh mozzarella stuffed with cream.)  It was topped with avocado and red onion and drizzled with a balsamic glaze.

Our next course was an Italian egg drop soup that is very popular in the region.  It is called Stracciatella Alla Romana.  Stracciatella, translated means, “little shred” which is how the egg looks in the soup when you stir them in.  The soup is light and refreshing and very customary to serve when someone is feeling a bit under the weather.  We enjoyed it with Italian bread sticks.

For the main course, we had two dishes.  One was called Swallows Nest Pasta or Nidi di Rondine, in Italian.  They call it that because of the way the pasta is rolled up and somewhat resembles a nest.  The best part is how it tastes!  A large pasta noodle smothered with a béchamel sauce then topped with two types of cheese, a piece of prosciutto, rolled up and topped with a marinara sauce and more cheese.  The dish was baked and we loved it.  It also is just as good (or even a little better) the next day, like many pasta dishes are.

For our second entre´, I decided to serve a more adventurous dish, which was roast rabbit and fennel.  I was thrilled to have guests joining me for this meal and knew they would enjoy something out of the ordinary.  The rabbit did not disappoint.  I was able to find the rabbit in my local Asian market’s frozen section and then had to look up how to cut it up.  It was similar to cutting up a chicken by cutting in between the joints.  At any rate, one rabbit is pretty small for four people, so I was glad we were already pretty full from the other dishes.  The rabbit was enjoyed and the flavoring with the onions and fennel was lovely and made my kitchen smell incredible.

For dessert, we devoured the Torta Tre Monti.  It is considered to be the national dish of San Marino.  It is layers of waffled wafers that has Nutella or traditionally a hazelnut cream between each one and chocolate icing on the sides.  It was topped with a dark chocolate cherry gelato.  It was a lovely combination, enjoyed with a little espresso.  “Magnifico!”

As we say goodbye to this tiny Republic of San Marino, I leave you with a legend which says that the creation of Mount Titano, on which stands the city of San Marino, was due to terrible giants called Titans.  They were the nephews of the god, Saturn, uncle of Zeus, who was on Olympus.  The Titans decided to attack him while he was sleeping and to scale the sky they began to accumulate boulders placing them on top of each other, but Zeus was warned and made them fall to the earth.  Consequently, there remained only the mountain made of rocks.  For this reason, it was called “Titan”.

Until next time,

“Arrivederci,”  (Farewell in Italian)

Warmest regards,

Darlene