Cape Coast Castle Begin At: Cape Coast Castle, Cape Coast Ghana Cape Coast Castle is one of the largest of the castles built by European powers in today's Ghana. It began as a trade lodge constructed by the Portuguese in 1555 on a part of the Gold Coast, which later became known as the Cape Coast. In 1653, following Sweden’s conquest of the Cape Coast, the Swedish Africa Company constructed a permanent wooden fortress for trade in timber and gold. It is open to the public and is currently a historical museum with a Ghanaian arts and crafts gift shop. It is also the regional headquarters of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.

Continue to: Elmina Castle, Elmina Ghana Elmina Castle was established by the Portuguese in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina (St. George of the Mine) in Elmina, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast). Elmina Castle was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea and is the oldest European building in existence below the Sahara. It was first established as a trade settlement but later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic slave trade. Today, Elmina Castle is a popular historical site and was a major filming location for Werner Herzog's 1987 drama film "Cobra Verde". It is an extremely popular destination for African-American tourists seeking to connect with their heritage and a powerful reminder of the history of the slave trade.