The main square
City hall and cathedral.
Balou46 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Balou46 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alvaro Ludgero Andrade (VOA) — Public domain · Franzfoto — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Balou46 — CC BY 4.0
The Plateau is the historic centre of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on the island of Santiago. It sits on a plateau above the city's harbour, which gives it its name, and holds many public buildings, including the Presidential Palace, the cathedral, the city hall and the Ethnographic Museum. It is about 10 km in a straight line from Cidade Velha. Praia began as a small village by the natural harbour in the early 16th century. Its position on the plateau made it easy to defend against pirates, so it gradually overtook the older town of Ribeira Grande and became the seat of government in 1770. In the 19th century the Plateau was rebuilt on a grid of streets lined with grand colonial buildings. The historic centre has been on the World Heritage tentative list since 2016. The main square, Praça Alexandre Albuquerque, is framed by the city hall and the cathedral under shady trees. Straight streets run between colourful houses with tile roofs and yellow buildings with small towers, and the covered Plateau market is piled with fresh fruit and vegetables. From the edge of the plateau you look over the harbour and the city's districts. The area is compact and easy to walk, best in the morning when the market is busy. Watch your belongings in crowds, and ask before photographing traders.
City hall and cathedral.
Fresh fruit and vegetables.
Tile roofs on a grid.
Plateau, central Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde
It stands on a plateau above the harbour.
In the morning, when it is busiest.