1Discovery of Cidade Velha

Villa Halcyon is situated in the town of “Ribeira Grande”, the former capital of  Cape Verde until 1754, replaced then by Praia! Today the city is more communely called “Cidade Velha” ( old city) and was classified world heritage by Unesco in 2009. Villa Halcyon is 15 min on foot of the center of Cidade Velha!

The visit of the fort – cathedral – pillory – convento Sao Francisco – church of the Rosario-trapiche  followed by a restoration along the small beach is certainly a must and takes one good day! Start early to escape from the heat and tourists .

Either you do it alone helped by the small map available in the villa, or accompanied with a guide of the city( to be reserved beforehand by Paulino), or you do it with Paulino as guide (to be arranged with him)!

2Praia

The center of Praia called “Plateau” makes you discover a typical colonial center!

It is a small very nice center with many colonial houses, a typical market, some small museums, colonial public buildings such as the presidential palace, the cathedral, the city hall.

Sucupira is a big daily market of the sendings of the diaspora!

For a real contact with the local population, it is interesting to meet with the parents of Jacqueline or Paulino at their home with them!

3Assomada

A city of the center of the island known for its African colored market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and for its museum of “Tabanka”, still active festival today which was the only festival tolerated by Portuguese in the time of the slavery!

4Picos

Small impressive village build below a threatening rock which counts some beautiful  colonial houses and a typical church!

5Sao Jorge de Orgaos’s botanical garden

Accessible by car, this garden is situated below rocks looking like tubes of organ!
It is in the middle of the national school of botanics!e botanique !

6Tarrafal – the concentration camp

Tarrafal, the city of the North, was the dramatic place where were imprisoned the political opponents of the military regime of Portugal! It is interesting to discover during the visit that there was a convivence between these  convicts and the population!

7The dams of Poilao and Santa Catarina

Magnificent oases in the middle of a desert scenery

8Boa Entrada

Its   secular “Kapok” tree and its “trapiche”=  “grogue” manufacturing facility still empowered by oxen!