Díli. This charming, lazy little seaside city suddenly found itself taking the role of national capital when Timor-Leste Timor became the world's newest independent country in May 2002.
The city lies on the northern coast of Timor-Leste, squeezed along the narrow plains between the central mountains which run the length of the Timor and the Ombai Strait.
Díli was the classic backwater during colonial times, being the main city of a remote colony in a remote part of the world. However, this heritage left Díli with a distinct Portuguese flavour and together with Macau, is probably the furthest east where you can savour genuine Portuguese food and architecture.
