The market
Yellow arcades and farm stalls.
Franzfoto — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cayambe — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alacoolwiki — CC BY-SA 4.0
Assomada is a town in the centre of Santiago island, its second largest, and the seat of Santa Catarina municipality since 1912. It sits on a plateau at about 550 metres surrounded by mountains and fields, about 26 km northwest of Praia. The town has about 21,000 people and plays an important commercial role on the island. It lies at the midpoint of the main road that crosses Santiago from Praia in the south to the port of Tarrafal in the north, a natural stop between the two. Its best-known sight is the market, founded in 1931 and one of the largest on the island, a yellow arcaded building surrounded by farmers' stalls of watermelons, coconuts, vegetables and crafts. Sharp-peaked mountains rise over the town, and from its edges you look across farmed valleys and hillside villages. In the centre stand a white church with a red tower and a cultural centre in the old post office. The market is best in the morning. Ask before photographing traders, and keep your belongings close. Serra Malagueta park is about 10 km away in a straight line.
Yellow arcades and farm stalls.
Sharp peaks above town.
A red tower in the centre.
Assomada, Santa Catarina, Santiago, Cape Verde
In the morning, when it is busiest.
On the main road from Praia towards Tarrafal.