All Topics  
Cidade Velha

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Cidade Velha
 
 
  Topics Cidade Velha Topic Home

Cidade Velha (Portuguese
Portuguese language

Portuguese is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia and Portugal. It is derived from the Latin language spoken by the Romanization Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula around 2000 years ago....
 for "old city
City

A city is an urban area with a high population density and a particular administrative, legal, or historical status.Large industrialized cities generally have advanced systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, house, and transportation and more....
"), or simply Sidadi in Cape Verdean Creole, is a city located 15 km from Praia
Praia

Praia , is the Capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago, Cape Verde island in the Sotavento group....
 (Cape Verde's capital) on Santiago
Santiago, Cape Verde

Santiago , or Santiagu in Cape Verdean Creole, is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation?s population....
. It is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde and used to serve as the capital of Cape Verde. Once called Ribeira Grande, its name was changed to Cidade Velha so to avoid confusion with another Ribeira Grande on another island. It is the seat of the Ribeira Grande de Santiago municipality.
r the island was discovered, the city was named Ribeira Grande (Portuguese
Portuguese language

Portuguese is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia and Portugal. It is derived from the Latin language spoken by the Romanization Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula around 2000 years ago....
 for large river
River

A river is a natural stream of water, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake, or another stream. In some cases a river flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water....
) by António da Noli,in 1462.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Cidade Velha'
Start a new discussion about 'Cidade Velha'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Cidade Velha (Portuguese
Portuguese language

Portuguese is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia and Portugal. It is derived from the Latin language spoken by the Romanization Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula around 2000 years ago....
 for "old city
City

A city is an urban area with a high population density and a particular administrative, legal, or historical status.Large industrialized cities generally have advanced systems for sanitation, utilities, land usage, house, and transportation and more....
"), or simply Sidadi in Cape Verdean Creole, is a city located 15 km from Praia
Praia

Praia , is the Capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago, Cape Verde island in the Sotavento group....
 (Cape Verde's capital) on Santiago
Santiago, Cape Verde

Santiago , or Santiagu in Cape Verdean Creole, is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation?s population....
. It is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde and used to serve as the capital of Cape Verde. Once called Ribeira Grande, its name was changed to Cidade Velha so to avoid confusion with another Ribeira Grande on another island. It is the seat of the Ribeira Grande de Santiago municipality.

History

Oldecity
After the island was discovered, the city was named Ribeira Grande (Portuguese
Portuguese language

Portuguese is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia and Portugal. It is derived from the Latin language spoken by the Romanization Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula around 2000 years ago....
 for large river
River

A river is a natural stream of water, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake, or another stream. In some cases a river flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water....
) by António da Noli,in 1462. In 1466, the settelment became an important port for trading slaves. Slaves from Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in western Africa, and one of the smallest states in continental Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
 and from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the northeast, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest....
 were shipped from Cidade Velha to Brazil
Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world....
 and the Caribbean
Caribbean

The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands , and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and Northern America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America....
.

Cidade Velha's port was a stopping place for two great navigators: Vasco of Gamma, in 1497, on his way to India, and Christopher Columbus, in 1498, while on his third voyage to the Americas.

Cidade Velha has the oldest colonial church in the world, constructed in 1495. The fort (called Forte Real de São Filipe) that dominates the town from 120 metres of altitude, was constructed in 1590 to defend the Portuguese colony from the attacks of the Frenchmen and English.

Demography

According to 1990 data, Cidade Velha had 2,148 inhabitants.
Population of the city of (1990–2005)
1990 2000 2005
2148 — —


Nearest communities

  • Rui Vaz
    Rui Vaz

    Rui Vaz is a village situated at the center of Santiago Island in Cape Verde. Due to its altitude its climate is pleasant compared to the rest of the country....
    , northeast
  • Praia
    Praia

    Praia , is the Capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago, Cape Verde island in the Sotavento group....
    , east


Sites of interest

  • Pelourinho
    Pillory

    The pillory was a device used in punishment by public humiliation and often additional, sometimes lethal, physical abuse.The word is documented in English since 1274 , and stems from Old French pellori , itself from Medieval Latin pilloria, of uncertain origin, perhaps a diminutive of Latin pila "pillar, stone barrier."...
     - Located in a square praça and has the history of slavery
    Slavery

    Slavery is a form of forced labor where a person is compelled to Labor for another . Slaves are held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase, or birth, and are deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to receive Remuneration in return for their labor....
     in Ribeira Grande dating back to 1513. It was first raised in 1520.
  • Fort Real de São Filipe, constructed in 1590 was a fort which was built for attacking pirates and defending the Portuguese colony from French and the English
    England

    native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
    . The elevation is at 120 m above sea level.