If there is a place in Madeira that stands out from the other in the Island in terms of waves, that place is undoubtedly Jardim do Mar. According to accounts, the name Jardim do Mar (garden of the sea) is owed to the abrupt transition of upright bare slopes into a green and cheerful resort, […]
After, for many years, having had just one access road, where you had to pass whether you were coming or going, Paúl do Mar has today another entry point. As such, to get to this flat ground by the sea, it is now easier and more accessible. People no longer emigrate looking for a better […]
The settlement in the civil parish of Ponta do Pargo began with Garcia da Câmara, João Gonçalves Zarco’s son-in-law, when he started forming small estates with settlers, who farmed the lands. The settlement was made mainly by Portuguese. The lands that form Ponta do Pargo civil parish belonged to Fajã da Ovelha ecclesiastical parish. They […]
The civil parish arises from the original headquarters of the ecclesiastic parish, the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, built there long before the ecclesiastic parish was created. Originally connected to the Estreito da Calheta parish, Prazeres became independent along with some farmhouses of Fajã da Ovelha on December 18, 1676.
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 […]
The Arco da Calheta civil parish is located in the eastern part of Madeira Island. It belongs to the municipality of Calheta. This parish is boarded by the parishes of Madalena do Mar, Canhas and Calheta. Regarding its climate, Calheta is very hot in summer, but somewhat harsher during winter. Arco da Calheta civil parish […]
Canhas is a very typical madeiran village and has not much to offer in terms of historical and cultural heritage. Canhas constitutes one of the access doors to Paúl da Serra, the great and only tableland in Madeira Island. Paúl da Serra is characterised by being the main hydric resource that feeds the brooks and […]
The civil parish Madalena do Mar is known for its typical fishermen quarter, located right at the entrance, for those arriving from Ponta do Sol. Madalena do Mar is one of the island’s warmest civil parishes, where the sun shines for the longest amount of hours. One of the main features of this civil parish […]
The origin of this parish is uncertain, but have people that say that the name comes from the Santo António or D.Maria I that has been concerned by the hunger problems in Porto Santo where built houses in Santo António da Serra to those who wanted to leave Porto Santo. Although, the habitants in Santo […]
The parish of Calheta is situated on the southwest coast of Madeira Island, with a population of 1700 (2001 Census), and with an administrative area of 14 Km2. The second largest parish according to population and area, is Calheta. It belongs to the municipality bearing the same name. The establishment of this civil parish dates […]
To get to Madalena do Mar from Funchal, you need to take the freeway towards Ribeira Brava (Funchal-Ribeira Brava). When you arrive at Ribeira Brava, exit the freeway and then follow the road signs towards Madalena do Mar. To get there follow the road towards Ponta do Sol. When you arrive at Ponta do Sol, […]
Faial parish was built at 20th February 1550. This parish has this name because of the huge abundance of beech (indigenous trees of the family Miracáceas) where they still growing in the streams and valleys in the mountains. The ancient inhabitants of this parish were the moors and Galician. During many years, the predominant culture […]
Ilha civil parish has an interesting name: Ilha (island). Its an island inside another island, with the difference that Madeira is surrounded by the sea, and the civil parish of Ilha is surrounded by streams, united in a single point, and a great deal of vegetation. Regarding its settlement, historians believe that the settlement was […]
Santana owes its name to a chapel in its honour, bearing the name Santa Ana (Saint Ana). The settlement took place around the year 1550, with people from Braga, from Portugal mainland. For that reason, the local inhabitants have the nickname “Bragados”. At the beginning of the colonization, the land was allotted amongst noblemen […]
Canhas civil parish owes its name to one of its first settlers, João de Canha. Historically, João de Canha is known to have been D. Diogo, Duque de Viseu’s squire. The civil parish, in Ponta de Sol municipality, was created by royal charter in January 30, 1557. It was then established as such in July […]
The name of Arco de São Jorge parish comes of the mountains that surround him shaped in “bow”. Until 1676 the territory of the actual parish belonged to São Jorge parish, which inherited the “appendix” of “São Jorge”. The Arco de São Jorge was high to parish category in 28th December of this same year. […]
There are several theories which try to explain the origin of the name São Jorge (Saint George). One of the versions derives from a sailor that would have disembarked there. Another theory states that a certain person gave the name of his son to this land. However, there is a third account, which […]
The name of São Roque do Faial parish had source in a chapel that existed in the XVI century, in name of the protector saint of São Roque party that gave his name to the parish. Like this, is the creator of São Roque parish, where the first church was raised in 1551 at Chão […]
Estreito da Calheta is located on the western side of Madeira Island. Today, thi civil parish is part of Calheta municipality, one of the first places outside Funchal subject to colonization and farming. The most important economic activity is Agricultute. Besides, the most predominant culture is the vine, after the sugar cane, that was once […]
Fajã da Ovelha is a parish in the district of Calheta, located southwest Madeira Island. The Atlantic Ocean is to the south and the mountains are to the northeast. Fajã da Ovelha is the least populated parish in density. Its main industry is agriculture, with some businesses. Other important activities include: bread making, building construction, […]
