Rue Banana
Rue Banana
4
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4.0
116 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
49
Average
18
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Kiu K (⚡🛫 Blitz Trips Lover!🛬⚡)
Palma de Mallorca, Spain416 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
Cidade Velha is charming. It was the first capital city the Portuguese built when arriving to Santiago Island. Which means, this street is the oldest paved one in Sub-saharan Africa.
As new competitros challenged the Portuguese monopoly over the international slave trade and the economy start dropping and after several pirates raids, European Settlers left this city moving to Praia. All colonial heritage buildings have felt down to ruins.
Now Cidade Velha is a laid-back spot with a couple of nice restaurants by the sea and some eye-catching public spaces and buildings. What I enjoyed the most was to mingle with locals.
If you got your own car, it only takes 20 minutes to get here. Thhen you can follow the road to Porto Mosquito to have a real taste of what Santiago island really is.
As new competitros challenged the Portuguese monopoly over the international slave trade and the economy start dropping and after several pirates raids, European Settlers left this city moving to Praia. All colonial heritage buildings have felt down to ruins.
Now Cidade Velha is a laid-back spot with a couple of nice restaurants by the sea and some eye-catching public spaces and buildings. What I enjoyed the most was to mingle with locals.
If you got your own car, it only takes 20 minutes to get here. Thhen you can follow the road to Porto Mosquito to have a real taste of what Santiago island really is.
Written 3 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter F
Essen, Germany23 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
A collection of great little cottages, still in use.
Absolute recommendation: buy the grog, which the lady sells in front of her house, it´s fab.!!
Absolute recommendation: buy the grog, which the lady sells in front of her house, it´s fab.!!
Written 14 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland28,747 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
Cidade Velha, the former Ribeira Grande, is one of the most worthwhile places to visit in the Cape Verde's. In this once first Portuguese settlement in the island's one gets an idea of the past. Today Cidade Velha is the Cape Verde's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The place is not too big and there are basically 6 sights, which should be included in a visit: the Fortaleza Real de São Filipe, the Se Cathedral, the Pelourinho (pillory), the church Nossa Senhora do Rosario. the ruined Convento de São Francisco and the Rua Banana.
The short Banana street is the only site, which is not of an ecclesiastical or military character or has directly to do with slavery as the Pelourinho. Thus here one has the somewhat most relaxed experience.
Why this street is called 'Banana' I couldn't find out. It is definitely not the shape of the street, since it is completely straight, leading from near the Pelourinho towards the Nossa Senhora do Rosario.
All the houses here have been restored with the help of UNESCO. They are built of stone, have one storey and a thatched roof. The street, through which an occasional car might go through, is paved in typical 'calçada'-style with cobblestones.
The place is not too big and there are basically 6 sights, which should be included in a visit: the Fortaleza Real de São Filipe, the Se Cathedral, the Pelourinho (pillory), the church Nossa Senhora do Rosario. the ruined Convento de São Francisco and the Rua Banana.
The short Banana street is the only site, which is not of an ecclesiastical or military character or has directly to do with slavery as the Pelourinho. Thus here one has the somewhat most relaxed experience.
Why this street is called 'Banana' I couldn't find out. It is definitely not the shape of the street, since it is completely straight, leading from near the Pelourinho towards the Nossa Senhora do Rosario.
All the houses here have been restored with the help of UNESCO. They are built of stone, have one storey and a thatched roof. The street, through which an occasional car might go through, is paved in typical 'calçada'-style with cobblestones.
Written 6 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinchetravels
San Juan, Puerto Rico543 contributions
July 2017 • Solo
It was just a street with a few houses. There was nothing much going on. I think you need to get a guide to have a better understanding of the street. There were no shops or restaurants on the street. If you need to eat, all the stores are facing the beach. There were a few restaurants and I ate at one of them and it was good.
Overall, it was great to visit Cidade Velha, but this street has not been promoted well or there was not enough information concerning the place.
pinchetravels.com for more info on my blog.
Overall, it was great to visit Cidade Velha, but this street has not been promoted well or there was not enough information concerning the place.
pinchetravels.com for more info on my blog.
Written 22 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo Dejonckheere
Leuven, Belgium111 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
Cidade Velha is worth a visit, as it offers a square, a very small beach with colorfol boats, some pubs just at the sea, all beautifully located. And the Rua Banana adds to the atmosphere, a small road with very old houses with beautiful, gentle color touches.
Written 18 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Worldtraveller
Witney, UK1,281 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
This street is still accessible to visitors, and we walked the length of it. Moreover it is still occupied, and our guide talked to a number of the residents. This is an area of historical significance to the locals, and this street is a prime example of what the area used to be like.
Written 11 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PatrickM_Travels
Almaty, Kazakhstan1,788 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Rue Banana (Banana Street) is a gorgeous ancient road. It is the oldest street to be urbanized by Europeans in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the tropics. Since Cidade Velha was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Banana Street has been restored and refurbished. Now it's lined with straw-roofed stone houses, some of which have been converted to small peaceful guesthouses. Beautiful! Entrance to the street is well-signed. You'll need to walk up Banana Street in order to reach Rosario Church and you can also reach San Francisco Church this way, however the second is easier reached via Caminho do Vale de Ribeira Grande. Banana Street is awesome. I'd love to return here an explore the area for an entire day.
Written 22 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buenosaires r
Bangkok, Thailand87 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
Beautiful Cidade Velha, so peaceful. We only had an hour there, could have spent the day. Both looking at the historic sites and enjoying the villige atmosphere.
Written 26 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iolanda Guerra e Andrade
Lisbon, Portugal3,748 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
Rua da Banana is believed to have been one of the first Sub-Saharian streets and the fact that as visitors we are alowed to feel what it must have been like to live here then is in my opinion a priviledge.
Written 10 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelinAlan
Los Angeles, CA1,821 contributions
June 2018 • Solo
Interesting buildings. The roofs are from the banana plants. Many photo ops. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes.
Written 23 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Comment y aller depuis Santiago ? Collectivo ? Bus? Merci
Written 11 November 2019
A rua fica na Cidade Velha, que é Patrimônio Mundial da Humanidade desde 26 de junho de 2009, e é tida como a primeira rua urbanizada pelos portugueses nos trópicos, com casas históricas e caminho obrigatório para a igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosário, construida em 1495, e hoje ainda é celebrada missas dominicais nela!
Written 5 June 2018
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