Roça Sundy
A colonial-era cocoa plantation where Arthur Eddington observed a solar eclipse in 1919 to verify general relativity. Today it is a boutique hotel.
Roça Sundy is one of Príncipe's largest historic cocoa plantations, with its main house, worker housing, and remnants of the narrow-gauge railway well preserved. On 29 May 1919, British astronomer Arthur Eddington observed a total solar eclipse here and measured the deflection of starlight passing near the Sun. This provided the first confirmation of Einstein's general theory of relativity. The estate has a monument, a replica telescope, and information boards. The main house has been converted into a boutique hotel under the Sundy Praia group. Non-guests can book visits and meals, and the hotel also offers cocoa farm tours. It is about 9 km from Santo António, roughly 30 minutes by dirt road.
Opening hours
By appointment (during hotel reception hours)
Nearby sights
- Ilhéu Bom Bom
- Santo António
- Roça Porto Real
- Pico Papagaio
- Roça Belo Monte
- Baía das Agulhas
- Praia Banana
- Praia Macaco