![Cidade Velha (Santiago)](https://image.arrivalguides.com/398x193/15/317a601a8d0864eab344ce043f85b288.jpg)
Cidade Velha (Santiago)
Cape Verde's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cidade Velha ('Old Town') was the first European settlement in the tropics, and once an important point in the Portuguese Empire. Parts of the original city still remain, including two churches, the town square and the imposing Forte Real de São Filipe (São Filipe Royal Fortress), looming over the area from the hilltop. It is the perfect place to begin exploring Cape Verde's fascinating past.
Read more