🏛️ Cidade Velha
Cape Verde
About This Sacred Site
Cidade Velha (Old City), formerly Ribeira Grande, on Santiago Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest European colonial city in the tropics, founded by the Portuguese in 1462. The city served as a major hub in the transatlantic slave trade and became the first diocese in sub-Saharan Africa. The ruins of the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, the Fort Real de São Filipe, and the Pillory (where enslaved people were punished) tell the story of colonialism, slavery, and faith. The site has become a place of pilgrimage and reflection on the shared heritage of Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
Key Facts
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site, oldest European city in the tropics
- •Founded by the Portuguese in 1462
- •Became the first Catholic diocese in sub-Saharan Africa
- •Served as a major hub in the transatlantic slave trade
- •The Pillory remains as a memorial to the suffering of enslaved people
Location
Coordinates: 14.9167, -23.6167
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