Nova Sintra, the capital of Brava, sits high on a green plateau and is one of the prettiest, most tranquil towns in Cape Verde — named by settlers who thought its cool, misty climate recalled Sintra in Portugal.
What to see
Life centres on a leafy main square with a bandstand, flowers and jacaranda trees, ringed by neat cobbled streets and colourful houses. It's a place for slow strolls, friendly chats and simply soaking up the gentle highland atmosphere.
Getting here
Brava has no airport, so you arrive by ferry from Fogo into Furna, then climb the winding road up to Nova Sintra. That remoteness is exactly why the island stays so peaceful and unspoilt.
The garden capital
At 500 metres, wrapped in the mists that keep it green, Nova Sintra is unlike anywhere else in Cape Verde: cobbled streets lined with hibiscus, bougainvillea and jacaranda, whitewashed houses with flower-filled yards, and a grand tree-shaded praça that would flatter a town ten times its size. The nineteenth-century planners named it after Portugal's Sintra, and for once the homage lands. Evenings, when the cloud rolls through the lamplight, are quietly magical.
Eugénio Tavares and the soul of Brava
Brava's favourite son, the poet Eugénio Tavares (1867–1930), wrote the mornas that fixed the island's reputation as Cape Verde's romantic heart — his "Hora di Bai", the song of departure, still closes gatherings across the diaspora. His statue watches the square, his house is preserved as a small museum, and his verses surface on walls around town. Read more in our Brava morna guide.
Practical information
- 20 minutes up from Furna port; aluguers meet every ferry.
- Guesthouses, the island's shops and a couple of restaurants are all here.
- Nights are cool and damp — pack a warm layer.
- Walks radiate straight from town: see Brava hiking.
- Cash only for most things; the ATM is not to be relied on.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Nova Sintra?
Settlers named it after Sintra in Portugal because of its cool, misty, green highland climate.
How do you get to Brava?
Brava has no airport; you reach it by ferry from Fogo into Furna, then drive up to Nova Sintra.