Assomada, in the green interior of Santiago, is home to what many consider the best market in Cape Verde — a vast, noisy, wonderful sprawl of produce, livestock and cloth that shows the country's African roots more clearly than anywhere on the coast.
The market
The Sucupira-style market here fills a large covered area and spills into the surrounding streets. Mountains of mangoes, papaya, bananas, cassava and sugar cane sit beside dried fish, live chickens, grogue in reused bottles and bolts of fabric. It is busiest on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Go early, take small notes, and be prepared for a friendly kind of chaos.
Museu da Tabanka
Assomada hosts a small museum dedicated to tabanka, a Santiago tradition combining mutual-aid brotherhood, procession, music and drumming with clear West African roots. It is a good, compact introduction to a side of Cape Verdean culture that visitors to the beach islands never see.
The Poilão tree
Nearby stands the famous Poilão — an enormous kapok tree, said to be centuries old, revered locally and impressive by any standard. It sits in a valley below the town and is usually included on island tours.
Practical information
- About an hour from Praia by aluguer or car.
- Market days: Wednesday and Saturday are the biggest.
- Combine with Serra Malagueta and Tarrafal on a north-island loop.
- Bring cash; almost nothing here takes cards.
Frequently asked questions
What is Assomada known for?
Its market — widely considered the best and most authentic in Cape Verde — plus the Tabanka museum and the ancient Poilão kapok tree nearby.
When is the market in Assomada?
It runs most days but is at its biggest and liveliest on Wednesdays and Saturdays.