Fogo Island

Fogo Island is one of the most interesting islands of the Cape Verde archipelago, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa. The name “Fogo” translates from Portuguese as “fire, flame, fire”, which fully reflects its natural character. The central and most impressive attraction of the island is the active volcano Fogo, which rises 2829 meters above sea level – the highest point of the entire Cape Verdean state.Fogo Island: an amazing combination of traditional culture and modern design This 476 km² island is characterized by a unique volcanic landscape with frozen lava flows that create a unique lunar landscape. The crater of the volcano, known as Chã das Caldeiras, is a vast basin that is home to around 1,200 people despite the seemingly uninviting surroundings. The volcano last erupted in 1995 and 2014, indicating that it is active. The history of Fogo Island is closely linked to the colonial past. The first Europeans to visit the archipelago in the 15th century were the Portuguese. Fogo Island was an important center of the slave trade, and later plantation agriculture developed. The island’s cultural heritage has been shaped by both Portuguese and African traditions, creating a unique fusion that today forms the basis of Cape Verdean Creole culture. The island’s architectural heritage is primarily represented in the city of San Felipe, the capital of Fogo. Here, colonial buildings (sobrados) that belonged to wealthy landowners have been preserved. They are characterized by a quadrangular architecture built around a central courtyard with trees. The buildings are decorated with glazed tiles imported from Portugal and the African continent. A special feature of San Felipe is the bright, colorful architecture. Most of the city’s buildings are constructed of volcanic lava, which itself is a gray, unimpressive color. However, the locals have painted their homes in bright colors – blue, green, orange, red, yellow – which creates a striking contrast to the surrounding landscape and ocean. The culture of Fogo Island is an important part of Cape Verde’s overall culture, reflecting a blend of European, African and Latin American traditions. Music plays a special role in the lives of the locals. Traditional musical forms include the morna, melancholy songs similar to Portuguese fado, often sung in Creole. Festivals on Fogo offer a unique immersion into the island’s vibrant culture. A standout among them is the Feast of São Filipi, celebrated annually in April. During this celebration, you can observe traditional dances, taste the local cuisine and participate in various cultural activities. The traditional handicrafts of Fogo Island include the making of volcanic lava products, which are sold in numerous stores, especially in the Cha das Caldeiras area. These souvenirs are unique to the island and reflect its volcanic nature. Fogo’s gastronomic traditions are also worthy of special attention. The island is famous for its high quality coffee grown on volcanic soils. The coffee from the Mosteiroos region in the north of the island is particularly famous. Local wine, produced in the volcano crater area, is another iconic product of Fogo. Traditional cuisine includes dishes such as Djigoti (made from pork, cabbage and cassava) and djagacida (made from beans, grains, lard or sausage). Desserts are often made with local fruits such as papaya and yams. In the context of modern design, it’s worth noting that there are two Fogo Islands – one in Cape Verde, which we discussed above, and one in Canada, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Canada’s Fogo Island is also noteworthy for its unique blend of traditional culture with innovative modern architecture. Canada’s Fogo Island has become known for an ambitious architectural project realized by Norwegian architect Todd Saunders. The centerpiece of this project is the Fogo Island Inn, an impressive structure on stilts perched on the island’s rocky shore. The