Cities and regions／Cape Verde
Place of interest ·

Pelourinho

The Pelourinho is a marble column in the historic core of Cidade Velha. Its meaning is tied to public punishment under colonial rule and to Atlantic slavery, making it a place of memory to approach with care rather than as mere decoration.

Cidade Velha
Photo by Cayambe Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
The place

What makes it special

  • The column helps place the violence behind the transatlantic trade in enslaved people in historical context.
  • Its connection to the old port and cathedral ruins forms part of Cidade Velha’s historical landscape.
  • The site invites reflection on the colonial past.
Pelourinho
Photo by Autor no identificado Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Pelourinho
Photo by Ji-Elle Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
Travel atlas

Articles in Pelourinho

Guides to this place

1 article

Pelourinho

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

1 related guides

Royal Fort of São Filipe above Cidade Velha and the Atlantic coast

Cidade Velha from the Fortress to the Port and Its Atlantic Memory

A day in Cidade Velha offers a chance to follow a compact historic layout while engaging thoughtfully with the memory of the Atlantic trade in enslaved people.

Read guide →
Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 30/09/2026