São Nicolau island
A mountainous island of 343 km², São Nicolau rises to Monte Gordo, 1,312 m, in its western half. Its two main towns are Ribeira Brava, inland, and Tarrafal de São Nicolau, on the coast.
Key facts
Before you go.
- Starting point
- São Nicolau airport, between Ribeira Brava and Preguiça, or Tarrafal de São Nicolau portSão Nicolau, Cape Verde (Wikipedia)
- GPS coordinates
- 16.61500, -24.27100São Nicolau, Cape Verde (Wikipedia)
Good to know
Three things to remember.
Tarrafal de São Nicolau port has ferry links to São Vicente (Mindelo) and Santiago (Praia).
São Nicolau, Cape Verde (Wikipedia)Ribeira Brava was founded inland after Porto de Lapa was abandoned in 1653 because of pirate attacks.
São Nicolau, Cape Verde (Wikipedia)The singer Cesária Évora is among the island’s notable residents.
São Nicolau, Cape Verde (Wikipedia)
Plan the trip
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Keep exploring
Cape Verde
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The Fogo volcano
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Cidade Velha, Cape Verde’s first town
Founded in 1462 by Portuguese traders, Cidade Velha is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde and its former capital, the first European colonial settlement in the tropics.
Sources · 1 pages consulted, with the exact sentence used
- São Nicolau, Cape Verde (Wikipedia)
[…] with an area of 343 km2 […] The main towns are Ribeira Brava and Tarrafal de São Nicolau. […] The settlement Porto de Lapa was abandoned in 1653 due to pirate attacks, and the town Ribeira Brava was founded in the interior. […] The mountainous island […] The highest point on the island is Monte Gordo (1,312 m), in the western half of the island. […] The island has a domestic airport, São Nicolau Airport, located between Ribeira Brava and Preguiça. There is a port at Tarrafal de São Nicolau, with ferry connections to the islands of São Vicente (Mindelo) and Santiago (Praia). […] Notable residents: Cesária Évora (1941-2011), famed musician (coordinates 16.615, -24.271)
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