Santiago is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation's population. One of the Sotaventos, it was the first of the islands to be settled, the town of Cidade Velha being founded as Riberia Grande in 1462. It is also home to the nation's capital city of Praia and to one of the islands' two international airports. Other towns on the island include Assomada and Tarrafal .
