Cape Verde
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Capo Verde can only be reached from Italy by air, being an oceanic archipelago some 570 km off the coast of Senegal. Amílcar Cabral International Airport on the island of Sal (SID) is the main entry point, with direct flights from Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino, Bologna, Verona and other Italian airports operated by TACV - Cabo Verde Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Vueling and EasyJet (seasonal). The Cesária Évora International Airport on the island of São Vicente (VXE) also offers direct flights from Europe; those of Santiago (RAI), Boa Vista (BVC), Fogo (SFL) and Santo Antão connect the main islands. Inter-island transport is via ferries and regional planes: the TACV company and Cabo Verde Express operate the internal air routes, while several shipping companies (ARMAS Cabo Verde, Polar Shipping) connect the main islands by sea; ferries are the cheapest option but journey times are long. Within the individual islands, public transport is limited to alugueres (shared minibuses) and taxis; mountainous islands such as Santo Antão and São Nicolau have winding roads that require off-road vehicles for access to remote villages.
.Introduction
Capo Verde is an island state consisting of ten main islands and several islets in the Atlantic Ocean, located approximately 570 km from the coasts of Senegal and Mauritania. The archipelago is divided into two groups: the Windward Islands to the north (Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista) and the Leeward Islands to the south (Maio, Santiago, Fogo, Brava). The islands are of volcanic origin; Fogo is home to the highest active stratovolcano in Atlantic Africa with Pico do Fogo (2,829m), still in partial activity. The country was uninhabited until the 15th century, when the Portuguese established their first colonies here; Cape Verdean cultural identity is the result of a profound synthesis between African and European matrices, expressed in the crioulo language and the musical genre of morna. The archipelago's strategic location has historically made it an obligatory stopover in the Atlantic trade routes. Cape Verde achieved independence from Portugal on 5 July 1975.
.Description
The Cape Verdean islands are morphologically divided into two types: the flat eastern islands (Sal, Boa Vista, Maio), characterised by desert landscapes with sand dunes and white sandy beaches, and the mountainous western and central islands (Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Santiago, Fogo, Brava), with pronounced relief, deep valleys, agricultural terraces and tropical vegetation at the highest altitudes. The contrast between these islands is marked: Sal and Boa Vista are destinations for mass beach tourism, while Santo Antão and Fogo attract hikers and mountaineers.
The archipelago was uninhabited at the Portuguese discovery of 1456-1460; colonisation brought slaves from sub-Saharan Africa to work on sugar cane and cotton plantations. This mixture of Portuguese settlers and African populations generated the unique Cape Verdean Creole culture: the Cape Verdean crioulo language (kriolu) is the mother tongue of almost all inhabitants, while Portuguese is the official language. Cape Verde was for centuries an important port of call in the slave trade and in trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas. The island of Santiago, with the city of Ribeira Grande (today Cidade Velha), was the first European colonial city in the tropics and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2009.
The economy is mainly based on tourism, remittances from emigrants (the Cape Verdean diaspora outnumbers the resident population) and services. Agriculture is limited by water shortages and drought; the main crops are maize, beans, cassava and sugar cane. Fishing is an important sector. The country is considered to be one of the most politically and civil rights stable in sub-Saharan Africa.
Cape Verdean culture is inseparable from music: morna, a genre characterised by saudade (melancholy) and performed by female voices, was declared a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage Site in 2019; the great performer Cesária Évora (1941-2011), originally from São Vicente, brought morna to international fame. The coladeira and funaná are other popular local genres.
Protected natural areas include the Fogo Natural Park that protects the Pico do Fogo and the volcano caldera, the marine reserves of the islands of Sal and Boa Vista (important for the nesting of the Caretta caretta turtle), the Santo Antão Natural Reserve in the north and the uninhabited island of Santa Luzia, the country's first integral reserve.
Capo Verde is one of the most popular destinations in Atlantic Africa for hiking. The island of Santo Antão is considered a trekking paradise in the archipelago: the Levada do Paul, the paths through the vineyards of Ponta do Sol and the Ribeira do Paúl, the descent from Cova do Paul to the coast are iconic routes. The island of Fogo offers the ascent to Pico do Fogo (2,829m), starting from the village of Chã das Caldeiras in the interior of the caldera; the route takes about 4-5 hours uphill. São Nicolau and Brava offer paths through rural villages and unspoilt landscapes. The island of São Vicente, with its capital Mindelo, is the starting point for excursions to Monte Verde (750m).
The ascent to Pico do Fogo (2,829m) is the archipelago's main mountaineering challenge. The volcano remained active until 2014-2015, when eruptions destroyed villages within the caldera; the inhabitants have since returned. The normal route to Pico do Fogo does not present any particular technical difficulties, but does require good training for the 1,400m altitude difference from the inside of the caldera. There is no structured historical mountaineering tradition.
The Fogo Skyrace is a mountain running race that takes place around Pico do Fogo, with varying distances. The island of Santo Antão is frequented by international trail runners for its technical trails. The Meia Maratona de São Vicente is held annually in Mindelo.
Information
General Data
Capital: Praia
Area: 4.033 km²
Minimum elevation: 0m (Atlantic Ocean)
Maximum elevation: 2,829m - Pico do Fogo
Number of inhabitants: 598.000 (estimated 2024)
Official name: República de Cabo Verde
Name of inhabitants: Cape Verdeans
Main administrative subdivisions: 22 concelhos
Bordering nations: none (island state)
Institutional site: https://www.governo.cv