Unesco sees Ribeira Grande as the first European colonial town to be built in the tropics which historically situated on the common maritime route between Africa, the Americas and Europe it is said that this name Ribeira Grande changed to Cidade Velha, linked both to Vasco de Gama and Christopher Columbus, in the 18^th c A.D. While writing its history, scholars say that ‘the mixing of human races and the meeting of African and European cultures gave birth to the Creole society which first developed in Ribeira Grande. It is located in the south of Santiago island. ‘Ribeira Grande’s role as centre for the acclimatisation and dissemination of numerous plant species between the temperate and tropical zones, and between the various continents’ is evaluated through its geographical situation in the late 18^th  century only. The oldest colonial church in the world, Nossa Senora do Rosario church is located at Cidade Velha.

Capo Verde refers to the Vediya mountain, it tells the story of an owl who lived thousands of years among gods and men. Later he was reborn as Soma-nasso;, a Rusi or Sage; the root of the name of the church is in this name only.

Cidade Velha—Chadheya, means ‘bird’.

Ribeira Grande—Iberia or the Abhiras settlement

Creole—Coel or Koili means the ‘Cuckoo’