Did you know that there is a total of 121 steps to the top of Roman Hill in Elmina? On the Roman Hill in Elmina sits the St Joseph's Minor Basilica and the oldest Catholic missi...
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Roman Hill
Roman Hill in Elmina is climbed by a reported 121-step staircase to St. Joseph's Minor Basilica, founded in 1880, with views over the town, coastline and salt ponds.
Why visit
About Roman Hill
Roman Hill is a hill in Elmina, in the Central Region of Ghana, within the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Municipal District. It is reached by a staircase reported as 121 steps, which leads to the top of the hill.
On the summit stands St. Joseph's Minor Basilica, described as the oldest Roman Catholic church in Ghana. It was founded in 1880 in Elmina by the White Fathers August Moreau and Eugène Murat. The hilltop also holds one of the oldest Catholic mission houses in Ghana, and the basilica has a small museum attached.
The site sits near the Dutch Cemetery, overlooking the historic town of Elmina. From the top, visitors get panoramic views of the Elmina township, the changing coastline and the salt mining ponds. The basilica's address is given as 3JPX+GF4, 35-41 Dutch Cemetery Rd, Elmina.
Roman Hill is a stop on guided Elmina heritage walking tours, where it is typically allotted about ten minutes. That short window is worth knowing in advance: the climb and the summit are usually taken in as part of a wider route through the town rather than as a standalone visit.
Practical details such as opening hours, entry fees, accessibility and whether the basilica or museum can be entered independently of a tour are not established by the available sources. Visitors planning around the hill should confirm current arrangements locally before relying on them.
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Within 5 km in a straight line. Road journeys may be longer.
Attraction
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Elmina Fish Market
A working fish market on the quay of Elmina's fishing harbour on the Benya Lagoon, beside Elmina Castle, where boats land from around six in the morning.
About 110 m from Roman Hill · straight line
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Fort Coenraadsburg
Fort St. Jago (Fort Coenraadsburg) is a small Dutch-era hilltop fort opposite Elmina Castle in Elmina, Central Region, Ghana.
About 190 m from Roman Hill · straight line
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Elmina Castle
St. George's Castle, commonly called Elmina Castle, is a 1482 Portuguese-founded castle and museum on a promontory at Elmina in Ghana's Central Region, listed by UNESCO.
About 220 m from Roman Hill · straight line
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · Source
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Elmina Fishing Harbour
A working fishing port below Elmina Castle in Ghana's Central Region, where visitors watch pirogues land their catch, busiest at morning returns and evening departures.
About 350 m from Roman Hill · straight line
Photo: sucram21 · Source
Attraction · Elmina
Dutch Cemetery, Elmina
A public, non-denominational colonial burial ground in Elmina, established in 1806 and holding about 70 interments, including Dutch officials and Elmina King Nana Kobina Gyan.
About 440 m from Roman Hill · straight line
Photo: Fentener van Vlissingen · Source
Attraction · Elmina
Elmina Java Museum
A private museum in Elmina, Central Region, interpreting the history of the Belanda Hitam — African soldiers recruited on the Dutch Gold Coast for the Netherlands East Indies Army.
About 1.8 km from Roman Hill · straight line
Photo: Fentener van Vlissingen · Source
Sources and checks
- Name: Tripadvisor - Elmina Heritage Tour · Checked September 27, 2026
- Description: Tripadvisor - Elmina Heritage Tour · Checked September 27, 2026
- Location: Map pin set by [email protected] · Checked September 27, 2026