It’s the second oldest settlement in the Cape Verde Islands with many parts of the town dating from the late 15th century. These include mansions of the early settlers and narrow streets lined with small colonial homes.
Visit the Museum which is housed in a merchant’s house from 1820 where you’ll discover more about these islands that were rarely heard of until recent years. The museum includes a typical traditional Cape Verdean home made from volcanic rock and has a courtyard planted with endemic species.
The beaches of the island are indifferent, composed of black volcanic sand and are often dirty. An additional problem is the roughness of the sea, even in calm weather. The churches of the island are pretty, Portuguese in style and with interiors often reflecting the maritime nature of many of the early inhabitants. Elsewhere, the town and the island as a whole are well known for the abundance of flowers that grow there in the rich volcanic soil.