Vila Nova Sintra

Vila Nova Sintra brings together island history, a central square and a viewpoint from which you can see several islands. The town offers different ways to plan your trip: you can explore Brava’s history and culture or consider the climb to the viewpoint and the walking routes.

A place with a history and a central square

During the frequent pirate raids of the 17th and 18th centuries, Vila da Nova Sintra emerged as the island’s main settlement. Praça Eugénio Tavares is the central square of Nova Sintra. It was named in honour of Eugénio Tavares, connecting a landmark in the town centre with a tribute to the person it commemorates.

Brava’s cultural and historical offerings also give your stay another focus. The Centro de Interpretação do Território da Ilha Brava is the island’s first interpretation centre and serves to promote its cultural, historical and ecological offerings. On Brava, the Casa Museu Eugénio Tavares presents a permanent exhibition about the poet’s life and work and his contributions to Cape Verdean culture, including the promotion of Crioulo as a mother tongue. The collection covers historical, ethnographic and anthropological topics from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Views and routes around Nova Sintra

From the Nova Sintra viewpoint, you can see Ilhéu Rombo and Ilhéu de Cima; on clear days, the view also extends to the neighbouring island of Fogo. The viewpoint can be reached from Nova Sintra via an uphill path about 300 metres long. Its length and climb provide practical guidance when setting aside time for a detour.

Another hiking option is the Nova Sintra/Stª Barbara/Vinagre route. It starts at Miradouro de Santa Maria and heads towards Santa Bárbara. This gives you a choice of different route options: the climb to the Nova Sintra viewpoint, and a route that starts at Miradouro de Santa Maria and leads towards Santa Bárbara.

Nova Sintra in the wider island landscape

Nova Sintra is the capital of the island of Brava. Brava is mostly mountainous; Monte Fontainhas reaches an elevation of 957 metres. The island’s waterways include Ribeira Garça and Ribeira da Cruz. The coastline also has its own highlights: notable bays include Furna and Fajã d’Água, and there are harbours at Ancião and Caniço. At Fajã d’Água, a natural swimming pool lies among volcanic rocks; its water is described as clear and turquoise.

For getting around Brava, a car with a driver or a taxi is recommended. A 7-kilometre road with 99 bends connects Furna and Nova Sintra. If you would like to include other parts of the island as well as the town, you can also consider different hiking routes: the route between Lomba and Baía de Tantum is short but challenging. The path to the Nova Sintra viewpoint is about 300 metres long and climbs uphill; the route between Lomba and Baía de Tantum is short but challenging.

Choose the right holiday apartment as your base

The aspects you would like to focus on can guide your search for a holiday apartment in Vila Nova Sintra: the central square and island history, the uphill path to the viewpoint, or exploring other parts of Brava. This lets you choose your accommodation according to the experiences that interest you, without conflating the different routes and island destinations.

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