Details of passionfruit at chef and artist Joao Carlos Silva's Roca Sao Joao, Sao Tome. The former plantation is now a hotel with a fine restaurant and art gallery. Sao Tome and Principe. Sao Tome and Principe, are two islands of volcanic origin lying off the coast of Africa. Settled by Portuguese convicts in the late 1400s and later a centre for slaving, their independence movement culminated in a peaceful transition to self government from Portugal in 1975..(photo by Stuart Freedman/In Pictures via Getty Images)