Western Africa
Discover Dona Maria Pia Lighthouse, Mindelo’s Torre de Belém, Praia’s Presidential Palace and more.
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architecture
Dona Maria Pia Lighthouse stands at Ponta Temerosa near Praia, on Santiago. Its white tower and attached low building form a familiar maritime landmark. Cabo Verde’s government recorded the lighthouse’s designation as national cultural heritage in2025, recognising its role in the country’s maritime identity. Look for the contrast between the slender tower, the lantern gallery and the dark volcanic ground beneath it.
Source: Government of Cabo Verde
architecture
Mindelo has its own replica of Lisbon’s Torre de Belém. The square tower, little turrets and crenellated walls now house the Museu do Mar. Cabo Verde’s heritage institute describes the museum as a place for exploring the sea’s importance to the country and to São Vicente. Look for the small balconies projecting from the pale walls: an ornate outline on a compact local landmark.
architecture
Praia’s Presidential Palace stands in Plateau, the historic centre of Cabo Verde’s capital. The pale facade contrasts with a red-tiled roof and white window surrounds. A small balcony draws the eye to the centre of the building. Formerly associated with the colonial administration, the palace became part of the independent republic’s civic landscape. Its exterior offers a way to notice how older buildings can acquire new national meanings.
Source: Presidency of Cabo Verde
architecture
Rua da Banana lies within Cidade Velha, the historic town on Santiago in Cabo Verde. In 2023, the government documented rehabilitation of houses along this street. Their stone-and-plaster walls and thatched roofs contribute to the character interpreted in the miniature.
Source: Government of Cabo Verde
history
The former concentration camp at Chão Bom, Tarrafal, is now a museum of memory and resistance. Cabo Verde’s heritage institute identifies the museum with the preservation of the site and the experiences of those imprisoned there under Portuguese colonial rule. The low barred windows and central arch belong to its surviving entrance. This is a place to approach thoughtfully, through the lives and testimony of prisoners rather than the appearance of its walls alone.
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