Porto Novo: São João, Mé Maia and the Harbour

Porto Novo can be discovered through a range of impressions: its harbour is the arrival harbour on Santo Antão, and the São João tradition gives the town a distinctive cultural character. There is also the Mé Maia statue and a bathing beach in the Municipality of Porto Novo. Which of these aspects interests you most can also help you choose the focus of your holiday.

São João: a festival tradition with a varied programme

Son Jon Revoltiod is celebrated in Porto Novo on 24 June. In 2013, the tradition was recognised as intangible cultural heritage at municipal level. If you want to plan your trip around the celebrations, check the event dates before travelling.

Highlights of the São João celebrations include an agricultural fair, an exhibition of gastronomic offerings and music in the Nós Reiz cultural village. The Romaria de São João procession is also part of the celebrations; it runs along Porto Novo’s main street. The programme therefore focuses on agriculture and food as well as music and a communal procession. For anyone interested in local traditions, it offers several specific themes around which to plan a trip.

Procession or pilgrimage route?

The pilgrimage route between Ribeira das Patas and Porto Novo offers another perspective on São João. It is 22 kilometres long. This clearly distinguishes it from the procession that runs along Porto Novo’s main street: one is a route between two named places, the other a procession held as part of the celebrations.

Without conflating the two, they may appeal to you in different ways. The celebrations bring together a fair, a gastronomic exhibition, music and a procession; the pilgrimage route has its own distinctive character in the course it follows. If you want to visit Porto Novo for its festival culture, it is worth checking the specific dates. If the route is your main interest, take its length into account when planning.

Mé Maia and other public art

The Mé Maia statue stands at a viewpoint opposite Porto Novo’s former town hall. It was created by sculptor Domingos Luísa, and the project was funded by emigrants Antonieta Miranda and Mariana Ferreira. Mé Maia is considered a symbol of Santo Antão, so its significance extends beyond the town. A report from February 2026 dates the statue’s construction to about 25 years earlier.

A statue honouring Cape Verdean women is also among Porto Novo’s cultural landmarks. On 2 February 2026, it was reported to have been restored. A visit here brings together different aspects of local remembrance: the tribute to Cape Verdean women and Mé Maia as an island symbol. For travellers interested in public art as well as festivals, these places and their history can provide a focus of their own.

Harbour, beach and choosing the focus of your holiday

Porto Novo harbour is the arrival harbour on Santo Antão. It is a practical landmark for finding your way around the island. Praia Balnear de Curraletes, a designated bathing beach, is also located in the Municipality of Porto Novo. Alongside festival culture, the pilgrimage route and art, these add further themes to consider when planning, even though they are not all in the same place.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you could first consider whether Porto Novo itself—with its celebrations, harbour and Mé Maia—is your main focus, or whether you also want to include other places in the municipality. Choose the specific location of your accommodation based on the places you plan to visit, rather than inferring a particular proximity from the place names.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Baía das Gatas, São Pedro, Salamansa, Mindelo.

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