Visit Ribeira Grande
Ribeira Grande is the second largest city in Cape Verde, located on the northern coast of the island of Santo Antao. It is a vibrant port town with a fascinating history stretching back to its days as an important trading centre for slaves and goods. The old town offers a window into its past with its whitewashed homes and cobbled streets, while the new town provides more modern shopping and leisure facilities.
The Ribeira Grande municipality also contains some stunningly beautiful countryside, perfect for exploring on foot or by bike. Popular tourist attractions in this area include Paul Valley National Park (Vale de Paul), Ribeira Seca Natural Monument and Paul da Serra Plateau. There's also plenty of beaches to explore along this rugged stretch of coast, such as Porto Novo Beach, Fontainhas Beach and Folha Beach.
One interesting historical fact about Ribeira Grande is that it was once home to over 20 sugar cane mills--a powerful reminder of how sugar production shaped much of Cape Verde's economy during colonial times. Today, you can still see ruins from some of these mills scattered throughout the nearby hillsides.
The Ribeira Grande municipality also contains some stunningly beautiful countryside, perfect for exploring on foot or by bike. Popular tourist attractions in this area include Paul Valley National Park (Vale de Paul), Ribeira Seca Natural Monument and Paul da Serra Plateau. There's also plenty of beaches to explore along this rugged stretch of coast, such as Porto Novo Beach, Fontainhas Beach and Folha Beach.
One interesting historical fact about Ribeira Grande is that it was once home to over 20 sugar cane mills--a powerful reminder of how sugar production shaped much of Cape Verde's economy during colonial times. Today, you can still see ruins from some of these mills scattered throughout the nearby hillsides.
