Pillory

A bit of history

The pillories, which seem like relatively harmless monuments, even by name, were used for a cruel purpose: to publicly judge those with “less than proper” behavior. Thus, people were attached to the pillory and flogged. Speaking in a colonial context, the main victims were the slaves brought by the colonists from the African coast to Cape Verde.

Why visit?

The oldest monument in Cape Verde

As Cidade Velha (originally Ribeira Grande) is the oldest town on Santiago Island and Cape Verde, the pillory dates back to 1512 or 1520, according to archaeological studies, and is thus considered the oldest monument in Cape Verde.

The Manueline style present in its construction

Built in white marble, in a Manueline style, this monument was restored in the beginning of the second half of the century. XX. It has interesting details, which will create admiration, especially for those who are not familiar with the style.

Part of the UNESCO Classification

The Old Town was considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the Pelourinho is one of the members of this classification, along with the rest of the historic center, which features other attractions such as Rua da Banana, Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church, São Filipe Fort and the Cathedral.

To visit, and discover a monument with about 500 years of history.