Sal-Rei, located on the island of Boavista, was founded in the 19th century by Portuguese settlers. During this period, the island was mainly used for the production of salt, from which derives the name of the city “Sal-Rei” (Rei means king in Portuguese, and was used as a title of respect for the importance of the salt production for the island’s economy).

The city is located near beautiful and unspoilt beaches, such as Estoril beach and Cabral. In front of the bay of Sal Rei you can see a small islet, the Djeu, with a fort called “Duque de Bragança”, built by the Portuguese in colonial times to protect the bay from pirate attacks. Most of the island’s services are concentrated in Sal Rei, overall a quiet place, where everything is within walking distance since the city is not very big.

Also located in the Rotchina area is the Jewish Cemetery, one of the most important architectural assets of Boavista. Sal Rei has grown over the years and it is possible to observe a slow but constant development, which attracts many foreign investors and many new residents who find in Boavista a paradise in which to move or spend long periods of the year.

The chapel of Our Lady of Fatima located at the back of Rotchinha, one of the driest areas of the island, near the sea and Praia David, has recently been restored. The chapel belonged to the David Benoliel family, the woman was Catholic, so her husband, with Jewish origins, built the chapel to honor the woman. After the death of the family, the chapel was abandoned and completely degraded, transforming it into an authentic ruin.

And since the chapel was later offered the Catholic church where the Pancini family still saw the ruins of the chapel, being religious she decided to rebuild the chapel.

Its initial construction took place in 1923, where it was named the chapel of Our Lady of Fátima. After a few years the chapel began to be abandoned, due to its location perhaps, it is not known, but only in the year 2015 another reconstruction was made by the Pancini family who donated it to the Catholic Church. Its inauguration took place on December 6, 2015, in a ceremony attended by the Bishop of Mindelo , Bishop Ildo Fortes, who went to the island for this purpose. The new chapel on the outskirts of Marine Club, is inserted in the parish of Santa Isabel.

The Church of Santa Isabel is one of the stops for those who want to see a point of the religion of the Cape Verdean people mostly Christian. The festivities in honor of the feast of the municipality and its patron saint, Santa Isabel, begins in the month of June with a large display of social, cultural and sporting activities of the municipality and ends on June 4 with the celebration of the traditional procession and popular lunch.

The festivities of the day of the municipality move the peaceful island of Boavista in a big way and they last for almost a whole month where the island “lives” with activities spread throughout the city, without forgetting the great spectacle of the famous Baile d’conjunto.

Another festival that is already becoming more popular is the carnival, a party of fantasy and joy.