A land of extreme beauty and extreme poverty, only the very old and the very young have tended to remain on Capo Verde. But now tourism is knocking at the door, offering greater prosperity but threatening the islands identity . . . 
Restriction: Not available in Italy Photo:Massimo Ripani The Capo Verde islands are an extreme place. Their landscape is made up of contrasts: rough volcanic peaks and pristine endless beaches,
dunes of sand and tropical mountain valleys. Their culture is the result of a intricate mix among African and Lusitanian roots.
Until now, long term poverty and harshness have pushed many Capo Verdeans to emigrate, leaving on the islands mostly the old and children,
who live basically out of the remittances made by emigrants. But nowadays mainstream tourism is knocking at the door: the big waves are perfect
for wind and kite surfing, the pristine desert landscape is a natural heaven for trekkers and bikers, the all-year-long good weather makes the
sandy islands a perfect destination for sun bathers. The exploitation by the international tourism industries has begun: for the local communities,
it represents a chance of improving their conditions of life and their destiny, but also a challenge to maintain control of their land and their identity.
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