to the river valleys and mountains, there are several beaches, including the main beaches in Ribeira Grande (Santa Bárbara and Monte Verde), Moinhos Beach (at Porto Formoso) and Viola Beach (in the shadow of Lomba da Maia). Human geography The municipality is divided into 14 sub-regional administrative authorities, or freguesias (civil parishes): Calhetas Conceição (Ribeira Grande) Fenais da Ajuda Lomba da Maia Lomba de São Pedro Maia Matriz (Ribeira Grande), the main urbanized area, and seat of the municipality, it has a population of just under 4000 inhabitants, and is the socio-cultural centre (location of many of the historical architectural buildings/structures); Pico da Pedra Porto Formoso Rabo de Peixe Ribeira Seca Ribeirinha Santa Bárbara São Brás The largest parish in population (and density) is Rabo de Peixe, while the smallest is São Brás. In area, the largest parish is Maia, and the smallest is Calhetas. The highest village is Lomba da Maia. Twin towns — sister cities Ribeira Grande is twinned with: Somerville, United States Fall River, United States East Providence, United States Laval, Canada Porto Alegre, Brazil Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Cape Verde Paul, Cape Verde Porto Novo, Cape Verde Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde Architecture Civic Arquipelago Center of the Arts () Augusto César Ferreira Cabido Home () Estate of Boa Viagem () Estate of Mafoma () Estate of Nossa Senhora do Vencimento () Estate of São Sebastião () Judicial Court of Ribeira Grande () Lighthouse of Ponta do Cintrão () Municipal Palace/Hall of Ribeira Grande () Philharmonic Society Progressive of the North () Rabo de Peixe Fishermens' Barrio () Santa Bárbara Parochial and Social Centre () Theatre Ribeiragrandense () Thermal Springs of Caldeiras () Churches Seventh-day Adventist Church of Lomba de São Pedro () Church of Espírito Santo () Church of the Divino Espírito Santo () Church of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos () Church of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem () Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição () Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores () Church of Nossa Senhora da Estrela () Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça () Church of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres () Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário () Church of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias () Church of Santíssimo Salvador do Mundo () Church of Santos Reis Magos () Church of São Brás () Church of São Pedro () Church of São Pedro () Church of Senhor Bom Jesus () Convent of Nossa Senhora