Santiago, Cabo Verde Edited and produced by: Zeca Pereira [email_address] Music: ‘Na Alto Cutelo’ performed by Ildo Lobo Photos: my own and from the internet Not for commercial use ……………………………………………………………………………………………

Santiago, Cabo Verde Santiago is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half of the nation's population. It was the first of the islands to be settled, the town of Cidade Velha (Old City) being founded as Ribei r a Grande in 1462. It is also home to the nation's capital city of Praia. The island population has doubled since the independence of Cape Verde in 1975. The main industries are agriculture, tourism, fishing and others, and leastly manufacturing. Main agricultural products are corn, sugar cane, banana, coffee and mangoes. Area: 991 km² Population: around 240,000 Municipalities: Praia, São Domingos, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, São Miguel and Tarrafal Highest Elevation: 1,394 m (Pico d'Antónia)

Other main towns on the island include Assomada and Tarrafal.

Santiago, Cabo Verde To counter constant droughts, the first dam of Cape Verde was built on the island of Santiago with funding and technical assistance from the Chinese Government .

Santiago, Cabo Verde The dam has changed profoundly the landscape and the agriculture of the area.

Santiago, Cabo Verde A never before seen addition to the landscape in Cape Verde: A LAKE…

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde Irrigation allows for more cultivated lands…

Santiago, Cabo Verde … bringing a smile of happiness to the faces of the peasants…

Santiago, Cabo Verde … and the reassurance of a wide variety of vegetable supplies to the island and beyond…

Santiago, Cabo Verde Human faces of Santiago…

Santiago, Cabo Verde Enroute to the interior of the island…

Santiago, Cabo Verde The landscape of Santiago is simply breathtaking…

Santiago, Cabo Verde The mountains of Santiago are a joy to the senses…

Santiago, Cabo Verde Achada Falcão…

Santiago, Cabo Verde São Jorge dos Órgãos…

Santiago, Cabo Verde The town of Picos and the famous rock named ‘Marquês de Pombal’

Santiago, Cabo Verde My dear brother Neca in the foreground and in the background the highest elevation of Santiago, the ‘Pico d’Antónia’.

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde Another spectacular view of the ‘Pico d’Antónia’

Santiago, Cabo Verde The range of ‘Serra Malagueta’

Santiago, Cabo Verde Typical country house…

Santiago, Cabo Verde The gate into Santiago is its International Airport

Santiago, Cabo Verde The population of Praia has more than doubled since the independence in 1975, so new apartment blocks are being built everywhere…

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde Traditional Portuguese style house …

Santiago, Cabo Verde The first high school of the island…

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde City Hall… Ministry of Foreign Affairs… Government Palace… National Assembly…

Santiago, Cabo Verde The ‘praça’ (the garden)

Santiago, Cabo Verde Another view of the ‘praça’…

Santiago, Cabo Verde Espectacular view from the belvedere of the plateau. On the right, the islet of Santa Maria, where an important tourism complex is to take place…

Santiago, Cabo Verde View of ‘achada de Santo António’ . The building of the National Assembly stands out…

Santiago, Cabo Verde Praia by night. On the right, the islet where a complex including a hotel and a casino is to be built, forming the ‘Fantasy Island’.

Santiago, Cabo Verde The magnificent and tranquil bay of Tarrafal…

Santiago, Cabo Verde Bay of Tarrafal…

Santiago, Cabo Verde Tarrafal – arrival of fishermen…

Santiago, Cabo Verde The traquility of the beach of Tarrafal is something that can only be understood by physically being there…

Santiago, Cabo Verde Romantic sunset at the beach of Tarrafal…

Santiago, Cabo Verde CIDADE VELHA - HISTORY In 1462, Portuguese settlers arrived at Santiago and founded Ribeira Grande (now Cidade Velha)--the first permanent European settlement city in the tropics. In the 16th century, the archipelago prospered from the transatlantic slave trade. Pirates occasionally attacked the Portuguese settlements. Sir Francis Drake sacked Ribeira Grande in 1585. After a French attack in 1712 under the command of the Capitaine Lesseps, the city declined in importance relative to Praia, which became the capital in 1770. ................................................................ Views of Cidade Velha… are the cannons still protecting it?

Santiago, Cabo Verde People of Santiago are deeply religious…

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde In memory of Amilcar Cabral, the founder of the nationality…

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde

Santiago, Cabo Verde The Future of Tourism in Santiago A British/Irish project, ‘ Sambala Village ’ , on the Santiago Island, is a resort with an expected investment of 650 million euros which is already under construction and soldout off plans. It comprises hotels, restaurants, private condominium, golf course, etc. Macau businessman David Chaw has announced an investment of US$100 million on a resort ‘ Fantasy Island’ in Praia, which will include a casino, hotel and restaurants and will be built on the islet of Santa Maria in front of Praia. Many other smaller projects are under way. The tourism sector in Cape Verde is growing at a staggering rate of 25% per annum.

Sweet Memories from Santiago, Cabo Verde

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