City center of Mindelo

Mindelo City Center
Mindelo City Center
Neighborhood
	Nossa Senhora da Luz church
	Coordinates: 16°53′13″N 24°59′17″W / 16.887°N 24.988°W
Country	Cape Verde
Island	São Vicente Island
City	Mindelo
Population (2010)	1,553
Website	www.cmsv.cv

The City center of Mindelo or Morada (Portuguese: Centro do Mindelo) is the historic center of the Mindelo in the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde. Its population was 1,553 at the 2010 census.^[1] It is the place where the island's first settlement was founded in 1793.^[2]^: 34 Many public buildings are situated in the city centre. It lies along the Porto Grande Bay. Adjacent neighbourhoods include Fortinho to the northwest, Alto Miramar to the northeast, Fonte Cônego to the east and Ribeira Bote to the southeast.

Landmarks and points of interest

The main streets of the city centre of Mindelo are Avenida Marginal along the waterfront, and the perpendicular Rua Libertadores de África (former Rua Lisboa). The main squares are Praça Estrela in the south of the centre, and Praça Amílcar Cabral in the north. Many colonial buildings from the 19th and early 20th century have been preserved. Sites of interest include:^[2]^{: 118–127}

Paços do Concelho, built 1860–1873, the city hall of the municipality of São Vicente
Palácio do Povo (People's Palace), the former Palácio do Governo (Government Palace), built in 1874, expanded in 1928-34
Our Lady of the Light Cathedral, Catholic church built in 1862, seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mindelo
Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design, built as the house of Senator Vera Cruz at the end of the 19th century, now houses exhibitions from Cape Verdean craftsmen
Torre de Belém, on the waterfront, a 1918-1937 replica of the Belém Tower in Lisbon
Municipal market, built in 1878
the former Customs House, now the Cultural Centre of Mindelo, built 1858-1860
Escola Jorge Barbosa (Liceu Velho), built in 1873 as the residence of the Governor