Santiago (Cape Verde) - Santiago (Capo Verde)

Santiago (Cape Verde)

Location
State	Cape Verde
Region	Leeward Islands
Surface	991 km²
Inhabitants	266.161

Santiago is one of the islands of Cape Verde.

To know

Praia, the capital of Cape Verde

Santiago, or Santiagu in the local Bádiu language, is the largest island of Cape Verde (991 km²), its most important agricultural center and permanent residence of half the population of the entire archipelago.

Geographical notes

Santiago is located between the islands of Maio (40 km to the west) and Fogo (50 km to the east). It was the first of the islands to be inhabited, the city of Cidade Velha was founded, as Riberia Grande, in 1462. It is also the seat of the nation's capital: Praia. Francisco Mendes Airport (2 km from the capital) is the second international airport of the archipelago. The main industries are agriculture, tourism and fishing. The main agricultural products are corn, sugar cane, bananas, coffee and mangoes. Cidade Velha, 15 km west of Praia, was the first capital of Cape Verde.

The highest peak is Pico da Antónia which reaches almost 2,000 m.

Background

The island was discovered by António Noli in 1460 who set up a garrison there in Cidade Velha, later known as Ribeira Grande. Local Creoles are the largest Afro-European community in all colonial history, and the local Creole language - Creole or Bádiu - became a separate language from Portuguese. Transcontinental slavery made Cidade Velha the second richest city in the Portuguese realm. Portugal, unable to protect its colonies, was then forced to witness continuous raids by English, Spanish, French and Dutch troops. In 1712, the capital Cidade Velha was severely attacked by foreign pirates so that the Portuguese were forced to move it to the Praia plateau. The population of the island, disadvantaged by the Portuguese colonial system, but supported by Amilcar Cabral and the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, gained independence in 1975. Santiago hosts numerous conferences on Creole culture.

Territories and tourist destinations

Santiago Island: full screen map.

Urban centers

Achada Fazenda
Assomada
Boa Entrada
Calheta de São Miguel
Chão Bom
Cidade Velha - The oldest center of all the islands of Cape VerdeThe square where the slave trade was carried out and the remains of a 15th century convent and a fortress are still well preserved. To see the pelourinho, on the large cobbled square, the column to which slaves were tied for sale or punishment, - the church of Nossa Senhora do Rosario (late 15th century), - the Rua de Banana (the street parallel to that of the church), one of the first streets of the town (late fifteenth century), - the ruins of the Franciscan convent (seventeenth century) with the adjoining chapel restored by the Spanish Cooperation, - at the foot of the staircase leading to the convent there are the trapiche and the alembic for making grogue - and, climbing alongside the ancient cathedral (late 17th century), you can walk up to the fortress (also reachable by car) overlooking the bay.
Figueira from Naus
João Vareia
Pedra Badejo
Ponta Rincão
Porto Formoso
Port Gouveia
Porto Mosquito
Praia - Main center of the island and capital of Cape Verde.
Praia Baixo
Ribeira da Barca
Ribeira da Prata
Rui Vaz
São Domingos
Tarrafal

How to get

By plane

From abroad, Praia International Airport serves carriers from Amsterdam, from Lisbon, from America (Boston) and Brazil (Fortaleza) through the TAP Air Portugal and the TACV^{[link not working]}. Currently it is not possible to reach Santiago from an Italian airport except through a stopover in Lisbon or Amsterdam.