Praia Republic

Praia is a constituent republic of Verde Commonwealth.

Praia Republic
Island of Santiago
Constituent Republic of Vekllei
Part of the Verde Commonwealth
Accession	1945, as part of the British Atlantic Territories
Area	991 km²
Capital	Praia
Languages	English, Verde Creole, Portuguese
Population	492,199

The Praia Republic (literally “Beach”) is a constituent republic of Vekllei in the Atlantic, in the southeastern fringe of the Barlavento archipelago. Its most distinctive feature is its towns, which sit on plateaus raised above the surrounding valleys – “Plateau” might have been the better name. The island is heavily forested, especially in its valleys and mountains, which is unusual for the region, and the overall effect is an unusually pretty island with a fairly insular culture of its own.

Praia is the administrative heart of eastern Verde and the seat of its federal garrison, and is the most populous of the Barlavento republics. For all that, it administers little beyond itself. Other Verde republics host major federal or international institutions – the NLTU in Sal, or the International Peace Park on Maio – but Praia has nothing of the kind, despite a welcoming culture, developed coastal towns and a pleasant climate.

The island became the Verde capital in 1858, chosen less for its geography than for the fact that it offended no established interests, while its highlands offered a defensible position over a good anchorage. A fortress was built there in phases over the following decades and has since absorbed the small islet in the harbour it once stood on; it remains the largest structure in the republic. The Portuguese colonial period also left behind salt pans and the legacy of the slave trade.

Verdean musicians fleeing drought in the 1880s found patrons among the colonial garrison and bureaucracy, and Praia developed its own strand of morna music. Informal concerts are still held around the old fortress, and the cafés near Government House keep something of the colonial-era atmosphere.

The capital, also called Praia, is well developed and has a number of tall buildings, including the fortress and the headquarters of the Commonwealth Maritime Register. It has the only underground metro in Verde, which connects to scenic rail lines running out to the republic’s mountain towns and villages. A fast train also runs to Tarrafal, the republic’s other city.

Climate

Expect heavy rains between August and October, but no precipitation at all the rest of the year. The weather is warm year-round.

Public Holidays

• New Year’s Day 1 Jan
• Heroes Day 20 Jan
• Republic Day 9 Mar
• Good Friday 30 Apr
• Commonwealth Day 1 May
• Ascension Day
• Whit Monday
• Assumption Day 15 Aug
• All Saints Day 1 Nov
• Christmas Day 25 Dec