Cape Green
Cape Verde, officially the Republic of Cape Verde , is an island country located in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands.
In 1460, on trips led by the Italians Alvise Cadamosto and António da Noli and by the Portuguese Diogo Gomes, several islands are discovered and explored, starting with the island of Sal.
The islands were all uninhabited, when populating them, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a European settlement in the tropics – the City of Ribeira Grande – today known as Cidade Velha – was the first Portuguese city built in sub-Saharan Africa and also the seat of the first bishopric on the west African coast, it was also where the first cobbled street in Africa was built – Rua da Banana. On June 10, 2009 it was classified as one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World. Due to its history, manifested by a valuable architectural heritage, on June 26 of the same year it was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
After a period of commerce in which the economy was booming, in the 19th century the archipelago went into crisis, causing many of its inhabitants to emigrate. Subsequently, and under the jurisdiction of the Portuguese New State, the Cape Verdean economy gradually recovered, becoming an important commercial center and a useful stopover along the main shipping routes.
After a long period of war against Portugal, it became independent on 26 August 1974 with the signing of the Algiers Agreement.
The Cape Verde archipelago is part of Macaronesia - Biogeographic Region that comprises four archipelagos: Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde. All islands are of volcanic origin and maintain geological, biological and human affinities. The fauna and flora of the region are quite diversified, with an abundance of endemic species. What makes it a place of special interest and importance, especially in terms of endemic fauna and flora.
What to visit
Click on the following images to discover the Cape Verde Islands.
What to do
In the archipelago of Cape Verde, tourists have countless attractions to visit – the old city of Santiago with its magnificent Gothic Church, Manueline style, dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Rosário (whose restoration ended in 2020), the Pelourinho, the Fort of São Filipe, Rua da Banana and another building left by the Portuguese; museums; typical streets, markets, salt pans, and much, much more; they can do countless activities – sport fishing, water sports, diving, dolphin and whale watching, golf, trekking among many other activities, or simply spend a beautiful day on one of its translucent water beaches; they can just rest in the resorts that already exist, go ecotourism and stay at Morgana Ecologde, or choose a hotel to stay overnight and discover the territories – cities and villages, beaches, mountains, valleys, their green spaces and also the deserts and also spectacular volcanic cones, culture – where music and dance are kings (morna, funaná and batuke), the rich cuisine and its welcoming and friendly people.
Click on the following images to find out more about Cape Verde.
The Festival Sete Sóis e Sete Luas, which takes place in November, is also worth mentioning. Its aim is to use Cape Verdean cultural diversity as an instrument for sustainable development in the most peripheral islands, making local authorities and populations aware of the need to preserve the cultural and urban heritage. , in addition to seeking to create new tourism dynamics in more remote areas – creating high-quality tourist offers, above all of a cultural nature.
Cape Verde is an archipelago that has a lot to offer everyone who wants to know it.
Curiosities
Climate
The archipelago is economically underdeveloped, mainly due to the lack of alternative resources. But because it is a place with high potential for tourist activity, TOURISM began to have growing importance for economic growth – there is strong foreign investment. Given its climate, tourism is possible throughout the year. The annual average is rarely above 25°C and does not drop below 20°C. Seawater temperature varies between 21°C in February and 25°C in September.