The document provides an overview of São Vicente Island and its largest city, Mindelo, in Cape Verde. It highlights that Mindelo is the cultural capital and most cosmopolitan city, located on Porto Grande Bay with the Monte Cara mountain overlooking it. The document also mentions key landmarks, festivals, beaches, and history of Mindelo, portraying it as a friendly and relaxed city with great potential for tourism development.

1. São Vicente Island Republic of Cape Verde Research, Design and Edition: Zeca Pereira Photos : from the Internet and private collection Music: A Kiss from Afar (Beijo di Longe), Teófilo Chantre/Gerard Mendes, performed by Cesária Évora

2. Cabo Verde: 9 inhabitated islands – 4,033 sq km – 460,000 beautiful souls

3. Mindelo is the cultural capital of Cabo Verde and its most cosmopolitan city Palha Carga Site of future huge touirsm investment

4. Porto Grande (Large Port) in Sao Vicente with its ex-libris, the Monte Cara (Face Mountain) in the background

5. The monument (an eagle) on the Aviators Square in remembrance of the first Portuguese pilots who made the first air travel from Europe to South America

6. Mindelo at dusk

7. Porto Grande Bay - wonderful sunset

8. Ilhéu dos Pássaros or Djeu (islet) at the entrance of the port with the Light House on top. As the lyrics of the music you are listening goes, ‘Ilhéu dos Pássaros is the guardian of the port’

9. The Carnaval is the biggest show of popular culture. People from all walks of life gather to enjoy life at its best.

10. Baia da Gatas is the location where the most prestigious Capeverdian international musical festival is held every year and the chosen spot for a huge tourism development

11. ‘ Laginha Beach’ is the city beach

12. Dolphins visiting Laginha Beach

13. The natural swimming pool of Baia das Gatas

14. Jorge Barbosa High School The first high school established in the sub-Saharan Africa

15. Water deposit of Madeiral where the community used to buy water by the drum

16. Magnificent view of the city by night

17. Mindelo is in the path of great cruises and yachts S/s ‘Nauta’ The marina still under construction S/s ‘Ernestina’

18. The Porto Grande of Mindelo is actually a big sheltered bay featuring very deep waters and excellent anchoring possibilities suitable for the largest bulk carriers, being at the crossroads between the Americas, Europe and Africa. The port has performed an interesting role during the World War II when the Allied Forces and German war ships called at the port for supplies or refuge taking advantage of the neutral position of Portugal in the conflict. The inter islands catamaran is fast, comfortable and a good alternative to flying.

19. The former Governor’s Palace, now the Palace of Culture

20. New apartment blocks and the shipyard in the background

21. Old building of the Banco de Cabo Verde and beginning of Rua de Lisboa to the left

22. Câmara Municipal (the Town Hall)

23. Still the Câmara (Town Hall) and the Food Market (left)

24. Cabo Verde Telecom (used to be the hospital). Originally the headquarters of Telégrafo (communications company)

25. Velho Fortinho (the old Little Fort), used in the colonial times as a political prison, soon the site for a multi-million dollar tourism project from British investors

26. ‘ Praça Nova’ (the public garden)

27. The Catholic Church in Mindelo and Pracinha d’Igreja

28. Rádio Club and farmácia Nena

29. The food market in Rua de Lisboa

30. Inside the food market

31. Mindelo is a friendly, clean, well organized and relaxed city. It’s the romantic city of Cape Verde. A city made for lovers

32. Mindelo seen from Fortinho (the Little Fort)

33. Air view of the city

36. ‘ Praia de Bote’ (fishermen beach)

37. The island of S. Vicente is one of the driest in Cape Verde. But when it rains… it means it really.

38. Aspects of the rain in 2009

39. The End