🏝️ Gorée Island
Senegal
About This Sacred Site
Gorée Island, a small island off the coast of Dakar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a powerful symbol of the transatlantic slave trade. The Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves) with its 'Door of No Return' has become a global pilgrimage destination for people of African descent seeking spiritual connection with their ancestors. The island also contains mosques, a church, and sacred spaces that reflect centuries of multi-faith coexistence and serve as places of healing and remembrance.
Key Facts
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978
- •The 'Door of No Return' in the House of Slaves symbolizes the departure point for enslaved Africans
- •Visited by multiple heads of state including Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II, and Barack Obama
- •The island measures only 900 meters long and 350 meters wide
- •Contains both a mosque and a Catholic church reflecting centuries of coexistence
Location
Coordinates: 14.6667, -17.3986
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