Travel Guide Rabil

Until the 19th century, Rabil was the main town on the island of Boa Vista. This typical town, located further inland in the central-western part of Boa Vista, at the gateway to the sublime Viana Desert, now has about 2,500 inhabitants. On the southern edge of Rabil is a building recognizable by its terracotta color, the Escola de Olaria, a pottery school opened in 1960. Pottery where the art of molding clay by hand is still preserved in Boa Vista, using ancient techniques known and developed by the workers of the village of Rabil. Nowadays, the artisans make and sell various objects such as vases, pots and stylized turtles and animals. Its opening hours are irregular, so if you find the door closed, it is better to ask someone from the neighborhood to let you in. In the past, the Rabil brick factory was the place where tiles were made and exported to distant Brazil and Portugal. Today, after being restored, the factory only produces tourist souvenirs, which one will be keen to acquire, if only to support the effort and contribute to helping the craftsmen a little. Rabil has since turned to agriculture, producing corn, beans, vegetables, dates, and coconuts, thanks to its ribeira, a seasonal watercourse, but also to goat breeding. The lagoa of Rabil, wetland around its mouth, is essential for the conservation of birds. The site is home to a large population of sparrows and several species of wading birds, including the white spoonbill. The houses of the village have colors that distill in the scenery and will be a source of inspiration for amateur photographers and fans of travel posts on social networks. In the village is the Igreja de São Roque, the oldest church on the island built in 1801. Very simple in appearance, it consists of two square towers framing a white nave. It is here that the animations of the patronal feast of Santa Cruz take place on May 3 and 4: mass, procession and... slaughter of roosters! Without forgetting music, coladeira and drums. With the development of tourism in recent years, the economy is focused more on services: the international airport Aristides Pereira is just a step away, dynamic provider of jobs and trade