Hightlight
- Historical Site
Cidade Velha, the ‘Old City,’ is a place where history feels tangible, standing as the first European colonial outpost ever built in the tropics. Once a bustling and wealthy port in the Atlantic slave trade, the town is now a quiet UNESCO World Heritage site filled with evocative ruins and cobblestone streets. You can explore the imposing Royal Fortress of São Filipe, which offers sweeping views of the ocean, or stand in the town square next to the 16th-century whipping post. The ruins of the grand cathedral and the oldest church in the tropics tell a story of colonial ambition and the early meeting of European and African cultures. It is a peaceful, seaside town that holds a deep and complex history in every stone of its ancient buildings.
- Where it is: On the southern coast of Santiago Island.
- What you can expect to see: Royal Fortress of São Filipe, cathedral ruins, and the historic Pelourinho (whipping post).
- How much it is to get in: ~$5 USD to enter the Fortress.
- What people say: History buffs call it ‘charming and evocative,’ a place where you can feel the weight of the past.
- Interesting fact: The town was a key port for explorers like Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus.
