Praia facts for kids

Praia
Aerial view of Praia
Map showing, in red, Praia in the Santiago island.
Country	Cape Verde
Municipality	Praia (seat)
Area
• Total	94 km2 (36 sq mi)
Elevation	1 m (3 ft)
Population (2010)
• Total	127,832
• Density	1,360/km2 (3,522/sq mi)
Area code(s)	+238
Website	Official website

Praia is the capital of the island nation of Cape Verde. It lies on Santiago island in the Sotavento archipelago. The city has, in 2010, a population of 127,832. Praia is Cape Verde's largest city. It is also the commercial center of the country. The name Praia means "beach" in Portuguese.

Praia has a port that transports coffee, sugar cane, and tropical fruits. Praia also has a fishing industry. The city is home to one of the nation's two international airports. There are resort beaches nearby.

Things to see

Some of the interesting things to see in Praia include:

• Albuquerque Square
• The old city hall
• The Presidential Palace - built in the end of the 19th century, it was used for the Portuguese governor

Other things

Praia has many schools, churches, beaches, ports, and a university named after Jean Piaget.

Images for kids

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  A 1772 map including Praia.

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  A depiction of Praia during the Battle of Porto Praya.

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  Portuguese cannon barrel, with coat of arms, at Praia, Cape Verde

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  An aerial view of Praia.

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  A view of Praia area plateaus. Achada Grande

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  The Nossa Senhora da Graça Church – Cabo Verde is primarily Catholic.

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  The Domingos Ramos Secondary School

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  Cabo Verde's Presidential Palace.

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  Cabo Verde's Supreme Tribunal.

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  Praia's Municipal Palace, a gem of Portuguese Colonial Architecture.

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  Gamboa panorama from Plateau on Praia, Cape Verde