Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde

For other uses, see Ribeira Grande.

Ribeira Grande (also: Povoação) is the largest town of the Ribeira Grande Municipality on the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. It has become a city in 2010.^[2] In 2010 its population was 2,564. It is situated in the northeastern part of the island, near the outflow of the river Ribeira Grande and its tributary Ribeira da Torre into the Atlantic Ocean. Neighborhoods include Tarrafal, Rua de Agua, Rua d'Horta and Penha de França.

Cove of Ribeira Grande in the mid 19th century

A typical street featuring colonial architecture

Ribeira Grande
Settlement
View of Ribeira Grande town and stream
Ribeira Grande
Coordinates: 17.183°N 25.065°W / 17.183; -25.065
Country	Cape Verde
Island	Santo Antão
Municipality	Ribeira Grande
Civil parish	Nossa Senhora do Rosário
Elevation	31 m (102 ft)
Population  (2010)[1]
• Total	2,564
Postal code	1110
ID	11107

History

Although the island was already discovered in 1462, the first evidence of settlement dates from 1548. The main settlement was Ribeira Grande, which became the seat of the municipality of Santo Antão in 1732.^[3]

Its earlier buildings are built with Portuguese colonial architecture. The church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário is the parish church.

Notable people includes chemist Roberto Duarte Silva, poet Manuel de Novas, and José Luís Jesus, former foreign minister and president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

Demographics

Year	Population
1990	2,550
2005	2,950
2010	2,564[4]