A good way to get close to the local culture: these places represent the nerve centre of the popular and peasant culture of each island.
You will find many markets, similar to each other, but profoundly different in their personal stories.
But why is it so fascinating?
The market reflects the original Cape Verdean character of each island.
One highly original market is that of Assomada, a medium-sized municipality located in the centre of the island of Santiago and at the foot of Pico Antonia.
Its market, which opens every Wednesday and Thursday, offers all the variety of products grown on the island of Santiago. Here, garden produce and tropical fruits mingle with a multitude of tubers such as yuka or sweet potato and aromatic herbs. There is no fish to be found and as for meat, only a few stalls selling chicken and Creole sausages.
On the same island of Santiago is also the Sukopira market, the largest in the country in terms of surface area. In it we can find fresh produce from the rural areas close to the capital and, above all, a great variety of handicrafts.
Fogo, the capital Sao Filipe has a beautiful municipal market in a blue colonial-style building where we can find fruit, vegetables, fresh fish of the day… as well as the famous Fogo coffee, grown on the heights of Cha das Caldeiras, at the foot of the great volcano.
In Mindelo we find a very famous fish market. São Vicente is a very arid island with a climate that does not help agriculture much but with fantastic fishing conditions. Attending the fish market is an authentic experience to discover the endless varieties of fish and seafood that can be found in the waters of São Vicente.
Visit the markets, they will leave you with a wonderfully authentic image of this country.
