Cidade Velha, which means "old city" in Portuguese, is a city in the southern part of Santiago Island in Cape Verde. It was founded in 1462 by Portuguese traders and is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde. It was once the capital of the country and was originally called Ribeira Grande by Portuguese colonists. The name was changed to Cidade Velha in the late 1700s after the capital was moved to Praia. Cidade Velha is the main town of the Ribeira Grande de Santiago municipality.

Located on an island near the northwest coast of Africa, this town was the first European colonial settlement in the tropics. Some of the carefully planned original design of the area still remains, including a royal fortress, two churches, and a town square built in the 1500s. Today, Cidade Velha is an important stop for ships traveling in the Atlantic Ocean and a center for Creole culture. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and named one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World in 2009.

Geography

Cidade Velha is located on the south coast of Santiago, where the Ribeira Grande de Santiago river meets the ocean. It is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of the capital city, Praia. The city includes areas such as Largo Pelourinho, São Sebastião, Santo António, and São Pedro.

History

The island of Santiago was discovered in 1460 by António da Noli, who was from Genoa and worked for Portugal. In 1462, da Noli settled at Ribeira Grande with his family and Portuguese colonists from Algarve and Alentejo. The location was chosen because there was plenty of water from Ribeira Grande, which made it better than another settlement called Alcatrazes on the same island.

The settlement became an important stop for Portuguese ships traveling to Africa and South America. During the 16th and 17th centuries, it was a center of trade between Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, Brazil, and the Caribbean. Because it was close to the African coast, it played a major role in the trade of enslaved Africans.

The port of Cidade Velha was visited by two famous explorers: Vasco da Gama in 1497 while traveling to India, and Christopher Columbus in 1498 during his third trip to the Americas. In 1522, the port was also a stop for the expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan, who was sailing for Spain and was on the final part of a journey around the world.

Cidade Velha has the oldest colonial church in the world, called Nossa Senhora do Rosário. It was built in 1495. In 1533, Cidade Velha became the main city of the new Roman Catholic Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde, which was created by a papal bull from Pope Clement VII. Today, the diocese is based in Praia, which is the capital of Cape Verde.

The wealth of Ribeira Grande and conflicts between Portugal and other colonial powers, such as France and Britain, made it a target for pirates. These included attacks by Francis Drake in 1585 and Jacques Cassard in 1712. Even though a fortress called Forte Real de São Filipe was built between 1587 and 1593, Ribeira Grande remained vulnerable and declined over time. The capital was moved to Praia in 1770.

Ribeira Grande, now called Cidade Velha, was downgraded to a village after many important institutions left. Its buildings, including civil, religious, and military structures, began to fall into disrepair. Starting in the 1960s, restoration work began. In 2009, the area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sites of interest

• Pelourinho (Pillory), built in 1512 or 1520. This marble pillar was used to punish disobedient slaves publicly. It was restored in the 1960s and is located in the city’s main square.
• Forte Real de São Filipe, constructed between 1587 and 1593. This fort was built to protect against pirate attacks, mainly from French and English pirates. It is located 120 meters above sea level.
• Nossa Senhora do Rosário church, the oldest colonial church in the world, built in 1495. It includes a side chapel designed in Manueline Gothic style.
• Ruins of Sé Cathedral. Construction began in 1556 and was completed in 1705. The church was attacked and looted in 1712. Its ruins, which were once 60 meters long, were preserved in 2004.
• Ruins of the convent of São Francisco, built in 1657 on a hill outside the city center. The convent church was restored in 2002.
• Many traditional homes are located along the streets rua Banana and rua Carreira.

Climate

Cidade Velha has a hot, dry climate, which is classified as BWh in the Köppen system. It receives about 201 millimeters (or 7.91 inches) of rain each year, and its average temperature is 25.2°C (77.4°F). The coolest month is January, with an average temperature of 23.0°C (73.4°F), and the hottest month is October, with an average temperature of 28.0°C (82.4°F).