Tarrafal

Tarrafal
Coordinates	15 ° 17 ′ N , 23 ° 46 ′ W Coordinates: 15 ° 17 ′ N , 23 ° 46 ′ W
Basic data
Country	Cape Verde
Archipelago	Ilhas de Sotavento
District	Tarrafal
ISO 3166-2	CV-TA
Residents	18,000

Tarrafal is a place in the northwest of the island of Santiago in the Republic of Cape Verde with about 18,000 inhabitants. The place became known through a concentration camp , the Campo do Tarrafal , which the Portuguese Salazar regime (1926–1974) established there and in which political opponents were interned.

Today Tarrafal is mainly known for its palm beach, it is also a popular destination for the wealthier residents of the state capital Praia .

Attractions

In addition to the palm beach, the main square with the Santo Amaro Abade church, the town hall ( Cámara Municipal ) and the old market hall ( Mercado Municipal ) are worth seeing . On the beach, the old customs building ( Alfândega Velha ) is noteworthy. The center of the city gives a well-tended impression with dead straight, partly tree-lined streets .

The facilities of the former concentration camp have been preserved as a memorial and can be visited for a small fee. There are explanatory boards on the buildings and an exhibition has been set up. The memorial has been under special state monument protection since 2006.

Infrastructure

Tarrafal has several hotels, restaurants and pensions. There are good shopping opportunities in the main shopping streets of Rua Centro, Rua Macaco and Rua Bibinha Cabral. In the city center there is also a health center ( Centro de Saúde ), a bank and a post office.

The main bus station is not far from the New Market Hall ( Mercado Novo ). With the “ Aluguer buses” typical of Cape Verde , Tarrafal is connected with the capital Praia several times a day - but not on Sundays or public holidays. You may have to change trains in Assomada . The travel time from Tarrafal to Praia is around two hours.