The Santa Cruz council  is situated in south coast in the Madeira Island.

This council was been created in the second quarter of the XV century. So is one of the most ancients councils in the Madeira Island. This council has been considered villa on 25 June 1515.

The highest development in this council made it to compete with Machico, where Santa Cruz wins in size and in the building importance, well in the movement of their customs.

The name of this council comes from the dried branch with two armful in cross, where have been found in a wood of bay-trees in the south coast.