Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande in Cape Verde
Located off of Africa's northwest coast, this city center was the first European colonial settlement in the tropics. Some of the meticulously planned original design of the site is still intact, from a royal fortress to two towering churches to a 16th-century town square. Today, Cidade Velha, located on the island of Santiago, is an Atlantic shipping stop and center for Creole culture.