The city-port dialogue in São Vicente-Cape Verde: Mindelo-Porto Grande (Africa)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze de role of Porto Grande propelling the Mindelo’s urbaniztion (São Vicente, Cape Verde), a reverse phenomenon to those enclaves of Macaronesia where the big cities have generated port developments. Using an observational and comparative methodology, the paper characterizes the elements of the relation city-port in Mindelo, through their dissimilar stages of evolution: the connection between urban and port environment; the urban expansion and its es-trangement from the port; the lack of integration of the waterfront in the city; and the recent urban restitution of port areas. The magnitude of these processes has little in common with those of other Atlantic archipelagos, despite which timid processes of touristification and outsourcing can be seen.