Mindelo

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title: "Mindelo" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mindelo", "cities-in-cape-verde"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindelo" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameMindelo
settlement_typeCity
official_name
native_name
image_skyline{{multiple image
borderinfobox
total_width270
perrow1/2/2/1
image1Mindelo-Aug2000.jpg
caption1View of Porto Grande Bay
image22006.07.12.cv.sv.mindelo.palacio.jpg
caption2Palácio do Povo
image32006.06.26.cv.sv.mind.1igre.jpg
caption3Our Lady of the Light Cathedral
image4מינדלו בירת האי סנטו ויסנטה באיי כף ורדה 41.jpg
caption4Portrait of Cesária Évora
caption5Carnival of Mindelo
image6Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design (CNAD).jpg
caption6Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design
pushpin_mapCape Verde#Africa
pushpin_relief1
pushpin_mapsize250
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Praia in Cape Verde
subdivision_typeIsland
subdivision_nameSão Vicente
subdivision_type1Municipality
subdivision_name1São Vicente
subdivision_type2Civil Parish
subdivision_name2Nossa Senhora da Luz
coordinates
area_total_km267
established_titleFounded
established_date1793
established_title1City
established_date11879
population_total70468
population_as_of2010 census
population_density_km2auto
timezoneCVT
utc_offset-01:00
::

| name = Mindelo | settlement_type = City | official_name = | native_name = | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 270 | image_style = | perrow = 1/2/2/1 | image1 = Mindelo-Aug2000.jpg | caption1 = View of Porto Grande Bay | image2 = 2006.07.12.cv.sv.mindelo.palacio.jpg | caption2 = Palácio do Povo | image3 = 2006.06.26.cv.sv.mind.1igre.jpg | caption3 = Our Lady of the Light Cathedral | image4 = מינדלו בירת האי סנטו ויסנטה באיי כף ורדה 41.jpg | caption4 = Portrait of Cesária Évora | image5 = קרנבל במינדלו חודש פברואר 2023 04.jpg | caption5 = Carnival of Mindelo | image6 = Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design (CNAD).jpg | caption6 = Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design | image_flag = | image_shield = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = | map_caption = |pushpin_map = Cape Verde#Africa |pushpin_relief = 1 |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_mapsize = 250 |pushpin_map_caption = Location of Praia in Cape Verde | subdivision_type = Island | subdivision_name = São Vicente | subdivision_type1 = Municipality | subdivision_name1 = São Vicente | subdivision_type2 = Civil Parish | subdivision_name2 = Nossa Senhora da Luz | seat_type = | seat = | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_min_m = | elevation_max_m = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 67 | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1793 | established_title1 = City | established_date1 = 1879 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 70468 | population_as_of = 2010 census | population_demonym = | population_note = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_urban = | blank_name_sec1 = | blank_info_sec1 = | timezone = CVT | utc_offset = -01:00 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_party = | website = | footnotes = Mindelo is a port city in the northern part of the island of São Vicente in Cape Verde. Mindelo is also the seat of the parish of Nossa Senhora da Luz, and the municipality of São Vicente. The city is home to 93% of the entire island's population and is Cape Verde's second most populous city and largest city in Barlavento Islands. Mindelo is also considered the cultural capital of Cape Verde, known for its colourful and animated carnival celebrations, with roots in Portuguese traditions later influenced by the Brazilian culture.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Old_postcard_SaoVicente1.jpg" caption="Old postcard of Mindelo from the early 20th century"] ::

A settlement at Mindelo was founded in 1793 by the Portuguese. It was initially named Nossa Senhora da Luz, renamed Leopoldina around 1820 after the Queen consort. In 1838 it was renamed Mindelo after the 1832 Landing at Mindelo, north of Porto. It became a coal deposit for ships of the British East India Company in 1838, followed by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company in 1850. The settlement became a town (vila) in 1858, and had 1,400 inhabitants then. It became a city (cidade) in 1879, and had 3,717 inhabitants then. In 1884 a submarine communications cable was laid between Europe, Africa, India and North America, making Mindelo an important communications centre for the British Empire.

From the beginning of the 20th century the port of Mindelo lost its importance for transatlantic navigation. Causes for this were the shift from coal to oil as fuel for ships, the rise of competing ports like Dakar and the Canary Islands and the lack of investment in port infrastructure.

Between 1940 and 1958 three prolonged periods of severe drought, combined with soil erosion and overgrazing, brought famine in Cape Verde. In the whole archipelago, about 45,000 people died and 20,000 people emigrated. Mindelo attracted immigrants, notably from nearby Santo Antão, and continued to grow.

Mindelo was the cultural capital of the Portuguese-speaking world from November 2002 until November 2003.

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Cabo_2010_Monte_Cara.jpg" caption="Downtown Mindelo seen from 'Gud'"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/20121027-IMG_1049.jpg" caption="Mindelo, Cape Verde"] ::

Mindelo is situated at the Porto Grande Bay, a large natural harbour. The town is surrounded by low mountains: the Monte Cara and the Morro Branco headland to the west, and the Monte Verde to the east. The town is crossed by the river Ribeira de Julião.

The Cesária Évora Airport lies 9 km southwest of Mindelo, near the village São Pedro. Ferries for Santo Antão leave from the port.

Subdivisions

The city is divided into the following localities for statistical reasons:

  • Alto Miramar
  • Alto Morabeza
  • Alto Santo António
  • Alto São Nicolau
  • Alto Solarine/Forca
  • Atrás do Cemitério/Sul do Cemitério
  • Bela Vista/Pedreira
  • Campinho
  • Chã de Alecrim
  • Chã de Cemitério
  • Chã de Marinha
  • Chã de Monte Sossego
  • Chê Guevarra
  • City center/Morada
  • Cruz João Evora
  • Dji d'Sal
  • Fernando Pó
  • Fonte Cónego
  • Fonte Filipe
  • Fonte Françês
  • Fonte Inês/Espia
  • Fonte Meio/Madeiralzinho
  • Fortinho/Escola Técnica
  • Horta Seca
  • Lazareto
  • Matiota
  • Monte/Craca
  • Monte Sossego
  • Pedra Rolada
  • Ribeira Bote
  • Ribeira da Craquinha
  • Ribeira de Julião
  • Ribeira de Passarão
  • Ribeirinha
  • Tchetchênia
  • Vila Nova/Lombo Tanque
  • Zona Industrial Sul
  • Zona Militar

Climate

Mindelo city has a desert climate (Köppen: BWh). The average annual temperature is 24.6 °C. It is very dry with only around 100 mm annual precipitation.

|location = Mindelo (1991–2020) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 29.2 |Feb record high C = 29.5 |Mar record high C = 30.3 |Apr record high C = 29.5 |May record high C = 31.5 |Jun record high C = 30.5 |Jul record high C = 33.6 |Aug record high C = 31.8 |Sep record high C = 32.7 |Oct record high C = 31.5 |Nov record high C = 31.0 |Dec record high C = 30.0 |year record high C = 33.6 |Jan high C = 24.4 |Feb high C = 24.0 |Mar high C = 24.4 |Apr high C = 24.9 |May high C = 25.8 |Jun high C = 26.5 |Jul high C = 27.9 |Aug high C = 29.3 |Sep high C = 29.7 |Oct high C = 29.1 |Nov high C = 27.5 |Dec high C = 25.8 |year high C = 26.6 |Jan mean C = 22.5 |Feb mean C = 21.9 |Mar mean C = 22.3 |Apr mean C = 22.9 |May mean C = 23.8 |Jun mean C = 24.6 |Jul mean C = 25.9 |Aug mean C = 27.1 |Sep mean C = 27.6 |Oct mean C = 27.1 |Nov mean C = 25.6 |Dec mean C = 23.9 |year mean C = 24.6 |Jan low C = 20.5 |Feb low C = 20.0 |Mar low C = 20.2 |Apr low C = 20.8 |May low C = 21.8 |Jun low C = 22.6 |Jul low C = 23.6 |Aug low C = 24.8 |Sep low C = 25.4 |Oct low C = 25.1 |Nov low C = 23.7 |Dec low C = 22.0 |year low C = 22.5 |Jan record low C = 16.5 |Feb record low C = 13.5 |Mar record low C = 15.6 |Apr record low C = 15.0 |May record low C = 15.0 |Jun record low C = 18.0 |Jul record low C = 17.5 |Aug record low C = 14.5 |Sep record low C = 19.0 |Oct record low C = 18.5 |Nov record low C = 19.0 |Dec record low C = 17.0 |year record low C = 13.5 |precipitation colour=green |Jan precipitation mm = 4.8 |Feb precipitation mm = 1.7 |Mar precipitation mm = 0.4 |Apr precipitation mm = 0.4 |May precipitation mm = 0.0 |Jun precipitation mm = 0.0 |Jul precipitation mm = 2.6 |Aug precipitation mm = 16.3 |Sep precipitation mm = 36.2 |Oct precipitation mm = 14.5 |Nov precipitation mm = 6.3 |Dec precipitation mm = 1.0 |year precipitation mm = |unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 1 |Feb precipitation days = 1 |Mar precipitation days = 0 |Apr precipitation days = 0 |May precipitation days = 0 |Jun precipitation days = 0 |Jul precipitation days = 1 |Aug precipitation days = 4 |Sep precipitation days = 5 |Oct precipitation days = 2 |Nov precipitation days = 2 |Dec precipitation days = 2 |year precipitation days = 18 |Jan humidity = 66.1 |Feb humidity = 67.6 |Mar humidity = 67.2 |Apr humidity = 68.2 |May humidity = 70.1 |Jun humidity = 72.9 |Jul humidity = 72.7 |Aug humidity = 74.0 |Sep humidity = 74.2 |Oct humidity = 72.8 |Nov humidity = 69.4 |Dec humidity = 67.3 |year humidity = 70.2 |Jan sun = 229.4 |Feb sun = 237.3 |Mar sun = 275.9 |Apr sun = 291.0 |May sun = 306.9 |Jun sun = 276.0 |Jul sun = 248.0 |Aug sun = 226.3 |Sep sun = 225.0 |Oct sun = 238.7 |Nov sun = 225.0 |Dec sun = 201.5 |year sun = |Jand sun = 7.4 |Febd sun = 8.4 |Mard sun = 8.9 |Aprd sun = 9.7 |Mayd sun = 9.9 |Jund sun = 9.2 |Juld sun = 8.0 |Augd sun = 7.3 |Sepd sun = 7.5 |Octd sun = 7.7 |Novd sun = 7.5 |Decd sun = 6.5 |yeard sun = 8.2 |source 1 =NOAA,{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/CaboVerde/CSV/MINDELO_8583.csv |title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = January 4, 2024}} Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica (precipitation, humidity 1981-2010) | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201229191802/https://www.inmg.gov.cv/index.php/servicos/servicos-climaticos | archive-date = 29 December 2020 | url = https://www.inmg.gov.cv/index.php/servicos/servicos-climaticos | title = Normais Climatológicas | publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica | language = pt | access-date = 28 December 2020}} |source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes, precipitation days, and sun) | url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_085830_kt.pdf | title = Klimatafel von Mindelo / Sao Vicente / Kapverden (Rep. Kap Verde) | work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world | publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst | language = de | access-date = 8 August 2017}}

Economy

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Praia_Lajinha_(S_Vicente,_Cabo_Verde).JPG" caption="New [[hotel]] developments in Praia da Laginha, Mindelo"] ::

Its economy consists mainly of business, fishing, shipping, boating and more commonly tourism which developed more recently. Mindelo has several hotels, restaurants and tourist agencies.

Cityscape

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Mindelo_portogrande.jpg" caption="Porto Grande"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Palais_gouverneur_Mindelo.jpg" caption="Palácio do Povo"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/CNAD_Praça_Nova_Mindelo,_Cabo_Verde.jpg" caption="Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design"] ::

The main streets of Mindelo are Avenida Marginal along the waterfront, and the perpendicular Rua Libertadores de África (former Rua Lisboa). Many colonial buildings from the 19th and early 20th century have been preserved in the city centre. Sites of interest include:

Statues

International relations

Mindelo has been twinned with the following cities:

Twin towns – sister cities

Education

Demography

At the 2010 census, Mindelo had 70,468 inhabitants. It is the second largest city in Cape Verde after Praia. ::data[format=table]

Population of the city of Mindelo (1980–2010)
1980
36,746
::

Sporting teams

Mindelo has several sports teams that includes the city, Académica, Corinthians and Derby are clubs that includes the entire island.

The main football stadium is Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena. Basketball, volleyball and futsal are played at Polivalente de Amarante in the southwest.

Notable people

References

References

  1. {{Population Cape Verde
  2. [http://ine.cv/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/statistical-yearbook-cv-2015_en.pdf Cabo Verde, Statistical Yearbook 2015], [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde). Instituto Nacional de Estatística]], p. 32-33
  3. Goulding, Rory. (2023-07-27). "Where to go on holiday in January: 15 incredible destinations: 11. Sao Vicente and Santo Antao, Cape Verde".
  4. [https://dspace.uevora.pt/rdpc/bitstream/10174/21556/1/Mestrado-%20Fred%20Delgado%20-%20G%c3%a9nese%20e%20desenvolvimento%20da%20cidade%20do%20Mindelo....pdf Génese e desenvolvimento da cidade do Mindelo: a preservação de uma identidade], Fred Yanick Fonseca Delgado, 2016
  5. {{rp. 76–80 Between 1910 and 1940 there were several strikes in Mindelo, and on 7 June 1934 there were riots in the streets of Mindelo, caused by unemployment and poverty. One man was killed; several were injured.[http://www.buala.org/pt/cidade/mindelo-entre-a-ficcao-e-a-realidade Mindelo: entre a Ficção e a Realidade], buala.org
  6. Keese, Alexander. (2012). "Managing the Prospect of Famine. Cape Verdean Officials, Subsistence Emergencies, and the Change of Elite Attitudes During Portugal’s Late Colonial Phase, 1939-1961". [[Itinerario]].
  7. [http://www.noticiaslusofonas.com/view.php?load=arcview&article=353&catogory=news Capital Lusófona 2003] (in Portuguese)
  8. (24 November 2016). "2010 Census results São Vicente". [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde).
  9. Source: [http://www.citypopulation.de/CapeVerde.html City Population], citing the [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde). Instituto Nacional de Estatísticas]].

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mindelocities-in-cape-verde