View source for Mindelo

{{For|the parish in Portugal|Mindelo (Vila do Conde)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Mindelo
| settlement_type         = [[List of cities and towns in Cape Verde|City]]
| official_name           = <!-- if different from name -->
| native_name             = <!-- if different from name -->
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border           = infobox
| total_width      = 270
| image_style      =
| perrow           = 1/2/2/1
| image1           = Mindelo-Aug2000.jpg
| caption1         = View of [[Porto Grande Bay]]
| image2           = 2006.07.12.cv.sv.mindelo.palacio.jpg
| caption2         = [[Palácio do Povo]]
| image3           = 2006.06.26.cv.sv.mind.1igre.jpg
| caption3         = [[Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Light, Mindelo|Our Lady of the Light Cathedral]]
| image4           = מינדלו בירת האי סנטו ויסנטה באיי כף ורדה 41.jpg
| caption4         = Portrait of [[Cesária Évora]] 
| image5           = 
קרנבל במינדלו חודש פברואר 2023 04.jpg
| caption5         = [[Carnaval#Cape Verde Islands|Carnival]] of Mindelo
| image6           = Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design (CNAD).jpg
| caption6         = [[Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design]]
}}
| image_flag              =
| image_shield            =
| nickname                = 
| motto                   =
| image_map               =
| map_caption             =
|pushpin_map              = Cape Verde#Africa
|pushpin_relief           = 1
|pushpin_label_position   = 
|pushpin_mapsize          = 250
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location of Praia in Cape Verde
| subdivision_type        = [[List of islands of Cape Verde|Island]]
| subdivision_name        = [[São Vicente, Cape Verde|São Vicente]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Administrative divisions of Cape Verde|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[São Vicente, Cape Verde|São Vicente]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Administrative divisions of Cape Verde|Civil Parish]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[São Vicente, Cape Verde|Nossa Senhora da Luz]]
| seat_type               = 
| seat                    =
| coordinates             = {{coord|16.886|-24.988|type:adm1st_region:CV_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_max_m         =
| area_footnotes          =
| area_total_km2          = 67
| established_title       = Founded
| established_date        = 1793
| established_title1       = City
| established_date1        = 1879
| population_footnotes    =
| population_total        = 70468
| population_as_of        = 2010 census<ref name=census10>{{Population Cape Verde|key=0|datref=SOURCE}}</ref>
| population_demonym      = 
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_urban        = 
| blank_name_sec1         = 
| blank_info_sec1         = 
| timezone                = [[Cape Verde Time|CVT]] 
| utc_offset = -01:00
| postal_code_type        = 
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = 
| area_code               = 
| leader_title            = 
| leader_name             = 
| leader_party            = 
| website                 = 
| footnotes               =
}}
'''Mindelo''' is a port city<ref name=yearbook>[http://ine.cv/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/statistical-yearbook-cv-2015_en.pdf Cabo Verde, Statistical Yearbook 2015], [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde)|Instituto Nacional de Estatística]], p. 32-33</ref> in the northern part of the island of [[São Vicente, Cape Verde|São Vicente]] in [[Cape Verde]]. Mindelo is also the seat of the parish of Nossa Senhora da Luz, and the municipality of [[São Vicente, Cape Verde|São Vicente]]. The city is home to 93% of the entire island's population and is Cape Verde's second most populous city and largest city in [[Barlavento Islands]]. Mindelo is also considered the cultural capital of Cape Verde,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/inspiration/where-to-go-on-holiday-in-january-sqnjbpvmm|first=Rory|last=Goulding|title=Where to go on holiday in January: 15 incredible destinations: 11. Sao Vicente and Santo Antao, Cape Verde|website=[[The Times]]|date=2023-07-27|access-date=2023-10-11}}</ref> known for its colourful and animated [[carnival]] celebrations, with roots in [[Culture of Portugal|Portuguese traditions]] later influenced by the Brazilian culture.

==History==
[[File:Old postcard SaoVicente1.jpg|thumb|left|Old postcard of Mindelo from the early 20th century]]
A settlement at Mindelo was founded in 1793 by the Portuguese.<ref name=delgado>[https://dspace.uevora.pt/rdpc/bitstream/10174/21556/1/Mestrado-%20Fred%20Delgado%20-%20G%c3%a9nese%20e%20desenvolvimento%20da%20cidade%20do%20Mindelo....pdf Génese e desenvolvimento da cidade do Mindelo: a preservação de uma identidade], Fred Yanick Fonseca Delgado, 2016</ref>{{rp|34}} It was initially named ''Nossa Senhora da Luz'', renamed ''Leopoldina'' around 1820 after the [[Maria Leopoldina of Austria|Queen consort]]. In 1838 it was renamed ''Mindelo'' after the 1832 [[Landing at Mindelo]], north of [[Porto]].<ref name=delgado/>{{rp|42–48}} It became a coal deposit for ships of the [[British East India Company]] in 1838, followed by the [[Royal Mail Steam Packet Company]] in 1850. The settlement became a town (''vila'') in 1858, and had 1,400 inhabitants then.<ref name=delgado/>{{rp|55}} It became a city (''cidade'') in 1879, and had 3,717 inhabitants then.<ref name=delgado/>{{rp|61–63}} In 1884 a [[submarine communications cable]] was laid between Europe, Africa, India and North America, making Mindelo an important communications centre for the British Empire.

From the beginning of the 20th century the port of Mindelo lost its importance for transatlantic navigation. Causes for this were the shift from coal to oil as fuel for ships, the rise of competing ports like Dakar and the Canary Islands and the lack of investment in port infrastructure.<ref name=delgado/>{{rp|76–80}} Between 1910 and 1940 there were several strikes in Mindelo, and on 7 June 1934 there were riots in the streets of Mindelo, caused by unemployment and poverty. One man was killed; several were injured.<ref>[http://www.buala.org/pt/cidade/mindelo-entre-a-ficcao-e-a-realidade Mindelo: entre a Ficção e a Realidade], buala.org</ref>

Between 1940 and 1958 three prolonged periods of severe drought, combined with soil erosion and [[overgrazing]], brought [[famine in Cape Verde]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://edoc.hu-berlin.de/bitstream/handle/18452/14232/22gDqzLZTTGk.pdf?sequence=1 |title=Managing the Prospect of Famine. Cape Verdean Officials, Subsistence Emergencies, and the Change of Elite Attitudes During Portugal’s Late Colonial Phase, 1939-1961|first=Alexander|last=Keese|journal=[[Itinerario]]|volume=XXXVI|issue=1|year=2012|pages=49–69|doi=10.1017/S0165115312000368}}</ref> In the whole archipelago, about 45,000 people died and 20,000 people emigrated. Mindelo attracted immigrants, notably from nearby [[Santo Antão, Cape Verde|Santo Antão]], and continued to grow.<ref name=delgado/>{{rp|86}}

Mindelo was the cultural capital of the Portuguese-speaking world from November 2002 until November 2003.<ref>[http://www.noticiaslusofonas.com/view.php?load=arcview&article=353&catogory=news Capital Lusófona 2003] (in Portuguese)</ref> 

==Geography==
[[File:Cabo 2010 Monte Cara.jpg|thumb|Downtown Mindelo seen from 'Gud']]
[[File:20121027-IMG_1049.jpg|thumb|Mindelo, Cape Verde]]
Mindelo is situated at the [[Porto Grande Bay]], a large natural harbour. The town is surrounded by low mountains: the [[Monte Cara]] and the [[Morro Branco, Cape Verde|Morro Branco]] headland to the west, and the [[Monte Verde, Cape Verde|Monte Verde]] to the east. The town is crossed by the river [[Ribeira de Julião]].

The [[Cesária Évora Airport]] lies {{convert|9|km|0|abbr=on}} southwest of Mindelo, near the village [[São Pedro, Cape Verde|São Pedro]]. Ferries for [[Santo Antão, Cape Verde|Santo Antão]] leave from the port.

===Subdivisions===
The city is divided into the following localities for statistical reasons:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ine.cv/censo_quadros/santo-vicente/|title=2010 Census results São Vicente|work=[[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde)|Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde]]|date=24 November 2016|language=pt}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=14em}}
*[[Alto Miramar]]
*Alto Morabeza
*Alto Santo António
*Alto São Nicolau
*Alto Solarine/Forca
*Atrás do Cemitério/Sul do Cemitério
*Bela Vista/Pedreira
*Campinho
*[[Chã de Alecrim]]
*Chã de Cemitério
*Chã de Marinha
*Chã de Monte Sossego
*Chê Guevarra
*[[City center of Mindelo|City center/Morada]]
*Cruz João Evora
*Dji d'Sal
*Fernando Pó
*[[Fonte Cónego]]
*Fonte Filipe
*Fonte Françês
*Fonte Inês/Espia
*Fonte Meio/Madeiralzinho
*[[Fortinho|Fortinho/Escola Técnica]]
*Horta Seca
*Lazareto
*[[Matiota]]
*Monte/Craca
*Monte Sossego
*Pedra Rolada
*[[Ribeira Bote]]
*Ribeira da Craquinha
*Ribeira de Julião
*Ribeira de Passarão
*Ribeirinha
*Tchetchênia
*Vila Nova/Lombo Tanque
*Zona Industrial Sul
*Zona Militar
{{div col end}}

===Climate===
Mindelo city has a [[desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BWh''). The average annual temperature is {{convert|24.6|°C|0}}. It is very dry with only around {{convert|100|mm|0|abbr=on}} annual precipitation.

{{Weather box
|location = Mindelo (1991–2020)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 29.2
|Feb record high C = 29.5
|Mar record high C = 30.3
|Apr record high C = 29.5
|May record high C = 31.5
|Jun record high C = 30.5
|Jul record high C = 33.6
|Aug record high C = 31.8
|Sep record high C = 32.7
|Oct record high C = 31.5
|Nov record high C = 31.0
|Dec record high C = 30.0
|year record high C = 33.6
|Jan high C = 24.4
|Feb high C = 24.0
|Mar high C = 24.4
|Apr high C = 24.9
|May high C = 25.8
|Jun high C = 26.5
|Jul high C = 27.9
|Aug high C = 29.3
|Sep high C = 29.7
|Oct high C = 29.1
|Nov high C = 27.5
|Dec high C = 25.8
|year high C = 26.6
|Jan mean C = 22.5
|Feb mean C = 21.9
|Mar mean C = 22.3
|Apr mean C = 22.9
|May mean C = 23.8
|Jun mean C = 24.6
|Jul mean C = 25.9
|Aug mean C = 27.1
|Sep mean C = 27.6
|Oct mean C = 27.1
|Nov mean C = 25.6
|Dec mean C = 23.9
|year mean C = 24.6
|Jan low C = 20.5
|Feb low C = 20.0
|Mar low C = 20.2
|Apr low C = 20.8
|May low C = 21.8
|Jun low C = 22.6
|Jul low C = 23.6
|Aug low C = 24.8
|Sep low C = 25.4
|Oct low C = 25.1
|Nov low C = 23.7
|Dec low C = 22.0
|year low C = 22.5
|Jan record low C = 16.5
|Feb record low C = 13.5
|Mar record low C = 15.6
|Apr record low C = 15.0
|May record low C = 15.0
|Jun record low C = 18.0
|Jul record low C = 17.5
|Aug record low C = 14.5
|Sep record low C = 19.0
|Oct record low C = 18.5
|Nov record low C = 19.0
|Dec record low C = 17.0
|year record low C = 13.5
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm = 4.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 1.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 0.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 0.4
|May precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 2.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 16.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 36.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 14.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 6.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 1.0
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 1
|Feb precipitation days = 1
|Mar precipitation days = 0
|Apr precipitation days = 0
|May precipitation days = 0
|Jun precipitation days = 0
|Jul precipitation days = 1
|Aug precipitation days = 4
|Sep precipitation days = 5
|Oct precipitation days = 2
|Nov precipitation days = 2
|Dec precipitation days = 2
|year precipitation days = 18
|Jan humidity = 66.1
|Feb humidity = 67.6
|Mar humidity = 67.2
|Apr humidity = 68.2
|May humidity = 70.1
|Jun humidity = 72.9
|Jul humidity = 72.7
|Aug humidity = 74.0
|Sep humidity = 74.2
|Oct humidity = 72.8
|Nov humidity = 69.4
|Dec humidity = 67.3
|year humidity = 70.2
|Jan sun = 229.4
|Feb sun = 237.3
|Mar sun = 275.9
|Apr sun = 291.0
|May sun = 306.9
|Jun sun = 276.0
|Jul sun = 248.0
|Aug sun = 226.3
|Sep sun = 225.0
|Oct sun = 238.7
|Nov sun = 225.0
|Dec sun = 201.5
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 7.4
|Febd sun = 8.4
|Mard sun = 8.9
|Aprd sun = 9.7
|Mayd sun = 9.9
|Jund sun = 9.2
|Juld sun = 8.0
|Augd sun = 7.3
|Sepd sun = 7.5
|Octd sun = 7.7
|Novd sun = 7.5
|Decd sun = 6.5
|yeard sun = 8.2
|source 1 =NOAA,<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/CaboVerde/CSV/MINDELO_8583.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 4, 2024}}</ref> Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica (precipitation, humidity 1981-2010)<ref name = INMG>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201229191802/https://www.inmg.gov.cv/index.php/servicos/servicos-climaticos
| archive-date = 29 December 2020
| url = https://www.inmg.gov.cv/index.php/servicos/servicos-climaticos
| title = Normais Climatológicas
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica
| language = pt
| access-date = 28 December 2020}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes, precipitation days, and sun)<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_085830_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Mindelo / Sao Vicente / Kapverden (Rep. Kap Verde)
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 8 August 2017}}</ref>
}}

==Economy==
[[File:Praia Lajinha (S Vicente, Cabo Verde).JPG|thumb|250px|center|New [[hotel]] developments in Praia da Laginha, Mindelo]]
Its economy consists mainly of business, fishing, shipping, boating and more commonly tourism which developed more recently. Mindelo has several hotels, restaurants and tourist agencies.

==Cityscape==
[[File:Mindelo portogrande.jpg|thumb|Porto Grande]]
[[File:Palais gouverneur Mindelo.jpg|thumb|Palácio do Povo]]
[[File:CNAD Praça Nova Mindelo, Cabo Verde.jpg|thumb|Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design]]

The main streets of Mindelo are [[Avenida Marginal (Mindelo)|Avenida Marginal]] along the waterfront, and the perpendicular [[Rua Libertadores de África]] (former ''Rua Lisboa''). Many colonial buildings from the 19th and early 20th century have been preserved in the city centre. Sites of interest include:<ref name=delgado/>{{rp|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
*[[Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Light, Mindelo|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
*[[Fortim d'El Rei]], a former fortress built in 1852
*Torre de Belém, on the waterfront, a 1918-1937 replica of the [[Belém Tower]] in Lisbon
*[[Farol do Ilhéu dos Pássaros]], lighthouse on [[Ilhéu dos Pássaros]]
*Municipal market, built in 1878
*the former Customs House, now the Cultural Centre of Mindelo, built 1858-1860
*Former British Consulate, built in the 1870s
[[File:Fortim (S Vicente, Cabo Verde).JPG|thumb|Fortim d'El Rei]]

===Statues===
*Statue of [[Diogo Afonso]] on Mindelo Beach - after the explorer of the island
*Statue of [[Baltasar Lopes da Silva]] - after one of the most famous writers of Cape Verde

==International relations==
Mindelo has been twinned with the following cities:

===Twin towns – sister cities===

*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Porto]], Norte, Portugal
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Coimbra]], Centro, Portugal
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Kronach]], Bavaria, Germany
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]], United States
*{{flagicon|RSA}} [[St Helena Bay]], Western Cape, South Africa

==Education==
*[[University of Cape Verde]], Faculty of Engineering and Maritime Sciences and School of Business and Governance 
*[[Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde]] - Mindelo campus
*[[University of Mindelo]] - Cape Verde's third university
*[[Escola Jorge Barbosa]] (''Liceu Velho'') - a campus of the University of Cape Verde
*[[Liceu Ludgero Lima]] - A high school

==Demography==
At the 2010 census, Mindelo had 70,468 inhabitants. It is the second largest city in Cape Verde after [[Praia]].
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" | Population of the city of Mindelo (1980–2010)<ref>Source: [http://www.citypopulation.de/CapeVerde.html City Population], citing the [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde)|Instituto Nacional de Estatísticas]].</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1980
| 1990
| 2000
| 2010
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 36,746
| 47,109
| 62,497
| 70,468
|}

==Sporting teams==
Mindelo has several sports teams that includes the city, Académica, Corinthians and Derby are clubs that includes the entire island.
*[[Académica do Mindelo]] – football, basketball, athletics
*[[Batuque FC]] - football
*GS Castilho – football, cricket
*[[FC Derby]] – football
*[[CS Mindelense]] – football, the oldest club in Cape Verde

The main football stadium is [[Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena]]. Basketball, volleyball and futsal are played at Polivalente de Amarante in the southwest.

==Notable people==
{{See also|Category:People from Mindelo}}
*[[Bana (singer)|Bana]] – singer
*[[Bau (singer)|Bau]] – guitar and cavaquinho player
*[[Yorgan De Castro|Yorgan de Castro]] - [[mixed martial arts|mixed martial artist]] who competes in the Heavyweight division of the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]]
*[[Francisco Xavier da Cruz|B. Leza]] (1905-1958) – writer, composer and singer
*[[Vozinha|Josimar Dias]] (born 1986) – footballer, also called Vozinha
*[[Bela Duarte]] – artist
*[[Cesária Évora]] (1941-2011) – folk singer
*[[Fantcha]] – singer
*[[Humberto Duarte Fonseca]] (1916-1983) – scientist
*[[Corsino Fortes]] (1933-2015) – writer
*[[Fredson Tavares|Fock]] – footballer
*[[Sergio Frusoni]] (1901-1975) – poet
*[[António Aurélio Gonçalves]] (1901-1984)– writer, critic, historian and professor
*[[Leão Lopes]] – community developer, documentary-maker, politician
*[[Manuel Lopes (writer)|Manuel Lopes]] (1907–2005) – writer, one of the founders of ''[[Claridade]]''
*[[João Cleofas Martins]] (born 1901) - photographer and humorist
*[[Ovídio Martins]] (born 1928) - poet
*[[Vasco Martins]] – musician
*[[Tito Paris]] (born 1968) –  musician
*[[Gualberto do Rosário]] (born 1950) – acting Prime Minister and later Prime Minister of Cape Verde
*[[Onésimo Silveira]] (1935–2021) – poet, diplomat and a political activist
*[[Jenifer Solidade]] (born 1984) - singer 
*[[Carlos Veiga]] (born 1949) – former [[Prime Minister of Cape Verde]]
*[[Jorge Carlos Fonseca|Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca]] (born 1950) -  former [[president of Cape Verde]]
*[[Dani Pinto]] (1958), football manager

==See also==
{{Wikivoyage|Mindelo}}
*[[History of Cape Verde]]
*[[Economy of Cape Verde]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{São Vicente}}
{{Mindelo, Cape Verde}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mindelo| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Cape Verde]]