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Santiago is the largest of all the islands being roughly 75km long by 35km wide and is home to the capital Praia and its international airport. This island’s Portugese colonial past remains visible today with the narrow, cobbled streets in the old historic port of Cidade Velha and the 16th century fort of Sao Filipe. This island is seen as the most diverse, as along with its rugged coastlines and palm fringed beaches it has a mountainous interior rising to 1392m at Pico D'Antonio.
Variety can be found through beautiful landscapes, rural villages, colourful markets and botanical gardens. It is seen as the most African of the archipelago and is home to around 96,000 of Cape Verde’s population of 420,000.
Santiago island is rich in history and for over 200 years its fortunes were built on merchant galleons plying their trans-Atlantic trade. It can trace its origins back to the illustrious navigators including Captain Cook, Sir Francis Drake and Vasco de Gama who docked in Cidade Velha on their voyages of discovery. The former Portuguese capital of Cape Verde with its grand cathedral and magnificent fort is situated about 10km from the modern day capital of Praia where the museum of marine archaeology houses a display of treasure retrieved from the various shipwrecks around the archipelago of the Cape Verde Islands.
Driving around Santiago is easy with a network of good paved or tarmac roads and although the whole island can be covered in a day, two days is recommended to take everything in. The centre of Santiago is fertile and green after the rains where bananas, papaya and maize thrive. There is also an excellent botanical garden at Sao Jorge, a bustling African market in Assomada and on the north coast the pretty fishing village of Tarrafal is well worth a visit with its white beaches and clear blue waters.
Santiago has more to offer holidaymakers than beaches and water sports and provides a more rounded holiday destination in terms of culture and sightseeing. Home to the capital city with its bustling fishing port, this island offers more of a local African flavour with its better night life than its neighbouring islands.
