Ribeira Grande de Santiago

Ribeira Grande de Santiago is an administrative division on Santiago Island, consisting of two parishes and predominantly hilly terrain. Its administrative center, Cidade Velha, is an older settlement with protected buildings and winding streets where approximately 8,000 people live today.

Cidade Velha is one of the earliest European settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa, established during the early Atlantic trade period. The administrative region took its current form in 2005 when it separated from Praia municipality.

Cidade Velha displays visible traces of early African and European cultural interactions in its buildings and street layouts. Visitors can see how this heritage shapes the place today through its architecture and daily life.

Visitors should expect hilly to mountainous terrain that requires sturdy footwear and time for exploration. Most facilities and services are concentrated in Cidade Velha, making it a good base for visiting the area.

The Ribeira Grande stream valley was crucial for early settlers who developed agriculture here despite difficult climate conditions. These adaptations still shape how farming and water management work in the region today.

Location: Sotavento Islands

Capital city: Cidade Velha

Elevation above the sea: 375 m

Shares border with: Santa Catarina, São Salvador do Mundo, São Lourenço dos Órgãos, São Domingos, Praia

GPS coordinates: 14.91500,-23.60500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:21