São Lourenço dos Órgãos

Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos is a municipality on Santiago Island that covers varied terrain ranging from lowlands to higher elevations. The main administrative hub is situated in a village at a mid-altitude location that serves as the central point for the scattered communities across the territory.

The municipality was established as an independent administrative unit in 2005 after separating from a neighboring territorial division. This change reshaped how the island's governance was organized.

The community here maintains traditional ways of working with local materials and gathers for celebrations that mark the seasons and honor their patron saint. These gatherings show how daily life is woven into the landscape and heritage of the island.

The area is best explored on foot or by local transport, as routes wind through hilly terrain and connect scattered communities. Visitors should be prepared for changing conditions at different elevations throughout the territory.

The territory includes several distinct parishes spread across different elevations, creating a patchwork of different landscape types and settlement patterns within one administrative area. This varied geography makes it one of few places on the island where so many different environmental zones exist together.

Location: Sotavento Islands

Capital city: João Teves

Elevation above the sea: 300 m

Shares border with: São Salvador do Mundo, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, Ribeira Grande de Santiago

Website: http://cmslo.org/cms

GPS coordinates: 15.06667,-23.60000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:43