Sao Filipe is Fogo Island’s capital city, set on its west coast. The charming town still exhibits remnants of its colonial past. Here, amongst cobbled streets and brightly painted squares, visitors will find many fine examples of the ‘Sobrado’ architecture brought to the island by the Portuguese. A number of scenic black sandy beaches such as Ponta da Salina and Porto de Vale de Cavaleiros are easily accessible from the town. Those with a taste for coffee, art and culture should head to the Dja'r Fogo Gallery to taste the artisanal coffee made on the family-run plantation here since 1874 and enjoy the centre’s exhibits and guided trips. Visitors can also find out more about what life was like on the island in the last 200 years at the Casa da Memoria.