Panoramic Praia & Cidade Velha

OVERVIEW

Spend time exploring Cidade Velha – the original capital of the Cape Verde Islands – and Praia, the capital since 1770. Thanks to its strategic location, Cidade Velha once thrived as a trading port. At the time, it was known as Ribeira Grande and was recognized as the first permanent European settlement in the tropics. UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage site in part for its stone architecture and the fact that sections of its original street layout still remain. As you drive through town, you will pass landmarks such as the Fortress of San Filipe and notorious Pillory Square. Back in Praia, the current capital of the Cape Verde Islands, you will view the presidential palace and a monument to Diogo Gomes, the Portuguese explorer that discovered the Cape Verde Islands in 1460. A short pause at a bustling produce market will present a look at daily life.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through the country’s current capital and the original capital.
• Discover why UNESCO deemed Cidade Velha a World Heritage site.
• Pass landmarks such as the Fortress of San Filipe and notorious Pillory Square.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.