The Estrada a Corda is the road that runs from Porto Novo to the northeast till Ribeira Granda, the administrative capital of Santo Antao. This national road with road number EN1-SA-01 is not just any road. It is the most beautiful route you can take in Cape Verde. The 36 kilometer long road runs through a beautiful landscape and itself consists of about 15 million cobble stones. These cobble stones are all irregular of shape and laid one by one by hand. A painstaking job! Due to the difficult terrain and the limited number of workmen, it took no less than 30 years to complete this hand-laid road. It is not without reason that Cape Verdeans are very proud of it!
The ridge passage at Corda
The Estrada a Corde route traverses the most spectacular landscapes of Santo Antao. Such as the cultivated volcano crater, lush forests, canyons and various crops. Along the way there are spectacular viewpoints over mountain ridges.
The route of the Estrada a Corda starts at Porto Novo in the south. The road here runs over slopes and old lava hills. The higher you go, the more beautiful and green it is. At one point you will drive along the edge of the old volcano crater at Cova de Paul. Here you have beautiful walking routes, including the winding walking route down towards the coast at Ribeira do Paul. If you drive a few more kilometers by car, you will pass the mountain village of Corda. A little further and at an altitude of about 1,000 meters you ride on a mountain ridge. Here you have an impressive view on both sides. The road here is only a few meters wide with deep precipices on both sides. Be assured: there is a wall that you cannot drive down. From here the road descends further inland towards Ribeira Granda.
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