Gorée - The Slave Island, Senegal (65/418)

Off the coast of Senegal, facing Dakar, Gorée was, from the 15th to the 19th century, the largest slave trading centre on the African coast. Ruled, in succession, by Portuguese, Dutch, English and French powers, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the dark slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconciliation.