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39-469: Machico ( Portuguese pronunciation: [mɐˈʃiku] ) is a municipality, parish and city in the southeast part of the island of Madeira , in the Autonomous Region of Madeira . The easternmost municipality on the island, it is also the third-most populous area with a population of 21,828 in 2011. The town, proper, had a population of 10,894 in 2001. "We saw a land covered in trees until

78-721: A golf course that was designed by Spanish golfing champion Seve Ballesteros ; Porto Santo Golfe hosted the Madeira Islands Open in 2009, as part of the European Tour . Once the planned second course is completed, Porto Santo Golfe will be the largest course in Madeira: there is currently one 18-hole golf course and one nine-hole course. In addition, Porto Santo's Golf Complex includes eight tennis courts and an equestrian centre (Pico Ana Ferreira). The island has an international airport, with daily flights to Madeira Airport (about

117-406: A coastal plain in the southwest (that includes a nine-kilometer long white sand beach, giving the island an advantage over neighboring Madeira). The mountainous northeast part of the island, consists of two geomorphological structures that includes: an area of peaks, Pico do Castelo (437 meters), Pico da Juliana (447 meters), Pico da Gandaia (499 meters) and Pico do Facho (517 meters); and between

156-508: A number of faults and dikes that cut across the Calcareous fossils. Likely occurring in the Pliocene , it was followed by deposits of layers of detritic and calcareous sediments, that included brownish-red alluvial layers, along the island's flanks and beach. Porto Santo has a semi-arid climate ( BSh ), with mild to warm winters and warm to hot summers. The driest months are July and August, and

195-492: A small island, the Porto Santo community has its own schools, health-care centre, police detachments, a gymnasium, churches, several local squares, a Congress Centre, museum, shopping centres, bars, hotels and restaurants. The main industry on the island of Porto Santo is tourism , which has emerged through hotel construction in the 20th century and is based on the attractions of the beaches and temperate climate. The island has

234-627: A total population of 245,595. The island is the top of a massive submerged shield volcano that rises about 6 km (3.7 mi) from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. The volcano formed atop an east–west rift in the oceanic crust along the African Plate , beginning during the Miocene epoch over 5 million years ago, continuing into the Pleistocene until about 700,000 years ago. This

273-405: Is a very low diurnal temperature variation with night-time lows above 20 °C (68 °F) being common in summer. The summer is also delayed in so-called seasonal lag . As a result, October is warmer than June in terms of daily mean temperature. The economy is focused on agriculture, tourism, and fishing, although a small number of businesses and commercial establishments have concentrated in

312-456: The 15th century, taking advantage of the abundant water and excellent climate, the first colonists began to cultivate sugar cane, and the first machinery used to process the pulp appeared immediately, facilitating the export to Europe. Although the Captaincy did not have the best lands to cultivate the plant (by 1494 one-fifth of regional production), the village that developed at Machico's beachhead

351-483: The Ponta da Calheta. This period was followed by a period of marine fossil accumulation, concentrated in the northeast of the island to about 300 meters altitude (around Pico do Juliana, Pico de Ana Ferreira and Ribeira do Moledo); 2nd Phase - this was a period of fissural volcanism that cut across and metamorphosed the older formations, occurring in the early Pliocene period; 3rd Phase - was an intrusive phase, resulting in

390-537: The Ponta do Tristão, in Porto Moniz), and by right the first Captaincy in the archipelago of Madeira. The first settlers eked out a meagre subsistence, as a Franciscan friar noted: "This Town of Machico (head and seat of the first Captain Tristão) even if its small, with few users, it is well situated, happy, of many vegetable gardens and orchards, situated in the middle of a Ravine so fresh as in high elevations" Still in

429-518: The caves. Despite the stories about the demon, the cave was used as a refuge by the locals, namely during violent uprises like the Revolta da Madeira in April 1931. Machico has a very mild mediterranean climate with small temperature differences between seasons. It is slightly cooler than Funchal in all seasons, but is still very mild in winter and has stable and warm summers, where heat-waves are rare. There

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468-436: The central mountainous area, consisted of the peaks: Ruivo (1,862 m or 6,109 ft), Torres (1,851 m or 6,073 ft), Arieiro (1,818 m or 5,965 ft), Cidrão (1,802 m or 5,912 ft), Cedro (1,759 m or 5,771 ft), Casado (1,725 m or 5,659 ft), Grande (1,657 m or 5,436 ft), Ferreiro (1,582 m or 5,190 ft). At the end of this eruptive phase, an island circled by reefs

507-599: The centre of town. The main harbour is a mixture of personal and public uses, that includes a lighted promenade, scenic landscapes of the town, as well as a small harbour that is used as a fishing port and public harbour (usually filled with yachts). Madeira Island Madeira is a Portuguese island, and is the largest and most populous of the Madeira Archipelago . It has an area of 740.7 km (286 sq mi), including Ilhéu de Agostinho, Ilhéu de São Lourenço, Ilhéu Mole (northwest). As of 2021, Madeira had

546-423: The climate of Madeira is complex, whose difference from place to place is accentuated, even in areas relatively close. Machico temperatures are relatively moderate throughout the year, with variation relatively low (only accentuated between elevations). Administratively, the municipality is governed from its seat in the city of Machico, but five local juntas de freguesia ( civil parish government ) handle issues in

585-468: The communities of: Machico has several primary schools, junior and senior secondary schools, banks, main post office and public square, along with public beaches. The Furnas do Cavalum are a group of four cavities located in Machico and named after a local legend about a demon called Cavalum, who was imprisoned in the cave. These lava tubes are of great importance allowing a view on the volcanic history of

624-514: The course of the ravine into the valley. Two poles developed: the right margin, that included the main barrio and the town's public institutions (municipal chamber, customshouse and church), and the left margin, that included nucleus of Banda d'Além, the Misericórdia (social centre) and Chapel of Christ, now known as the Chapel of Nosso Senhor dos Milagres ( Our Lord of Miracles ). In 1803, a landslide

663-511: The depredations of feral rabbits; there were also constant attacks by Barbary Coast pirates and French privateers. The New World explorer Christopher Columbus married the Portuguese noblewoman Filipa Moniz Perestrelo , the daughter of Bartolomeu Perestrelo . For a while they lived on Porto Santo. The home is now a museum. The island is characterized by two areas: the accidented northeast (mountainous, with rocky ledges and cliffs), and

702-475: The discovery and settlement of these lands, as the islands appear on maps as early as 1339. From a portolan dating to 1351, and preserved in Florence, Italy, it would appear that the islands of Madeira had been discovered long before being claimed by the Portuguese expedition of 1418. In Libro del Conocimiento (1348–1349), a Castilian monk also identified the location of the islands in their present location, with

741-449: The eastern coast and this area, a series of minor peaks, Pico do Maçarico (285 meters), Pico do Concelho (324 meters) and Pico Branco (450 meters). The southwest part of the island, although relatively flat, includes a series of elevations 100 meters in height or greater, such as Pico Ana Fereira (283 meters), Pico do Espigão (270 meters) and the Cabeço do Zimbralinho (183 meters). The slope of

780-505: The expedition. Many hypotheses have developed as to the origin of the name of the municipality. The most remembered, and not the least disputed, comes from the romanticized legend of the English lovers Robert Machim and Anne d'Arfet. As the legend explains, the two lovers escaped from England (where their love was forbidden and condemned by the Church), suffered the tragedy of a shipwreck and died on

819-480: The extreme eastern portion of the island of Madeira. It is linked by road from Funchal (the regional capital), to the Santana and the villages of Ribeira Seca and Caniçal . To the existence of mountains on the western coast, it is sandwiched along the coast from the rest of the islands' settlements, while forests lie towards the interior and grasslands cover the north-eastern corner of the municipality. Geomorphologically,

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858-493: The flanks of a large submarine volcano. The island's submarine activity occurred during the Miocene epoch, producing basaltic eruptions that persisted to the Quaternary period. There were three phases of distinct volcanism, followed by periods of calm associated with sedimentation: 1st Phase - associated with basaltic lava, pyroclastic flows, trachyte domes that were to form Pico do Concelho, Pico do Facho, Pico do Juliana and

897-564: The group with an area of 741 km (286 sq mi), a length of 57 km (35 mi) (from Ponta de São Lourenço to Ponta do Pargo), while approximately 22 km (14 mi) at its widest point (from Ponta da Cruz to Ponta de São Jorge), with a coastline of 150 km (90 mi). It has a mountain ridge that extends along the centre of the island, reaching 1,862 m (6,109 ft) at its highest point ( Pico Ruivo ), while much lower (below 200 m or 660 ft) along its eastern extent. The primitive volcanic foci responsible for

936-623: The island that became Madeira, where later the first Portuguese explorers encountered two crosses to which they attributed to the lovers: the name appears to be a corruption of the surname Machin . On 8 May 1440, the Infante Henry the Navigator awarded Tristão Vaz and his descendants the Captaincy of Machico (which included the Ponta da Oliveira, in Caniço, to the Ponta do São Lourenço and from there to

975-589: The municipality is dominated by steeped and inclined topography, except in the Machico valley (where slopes are gentle), formed by two mountain ranges: in the east Pico do Facho and to the west the Queimada plateau. Examples of these differences include the area south of Porto da Cruz (in the watershed of Ribeira do Juncal) and in Caniçal (in the Ribeira da Palmeira watershed). Due to its location and morphological characteristics,

1014-516: The names Leiname (modern Italian legname with the same meaning as Portuguese madeira , "wood"), Diserta and Puerto Santo. Indeed, the move by Portugal to claim the Madeiran islands was probably a response to Spain's efforts at the time to claim and subdue the Canary Islands . However, humans never recorded the discovery of Porto Santo Island or the other Madeira islands until 1418, when Porto Santo

1053-425: The now inactive island of Madeira, they have also biologic importance as there are several troglobiont living in the cave, including crustaceans, spiders and flies. At least fourteen invertebrates live in these tubes and at least three of them are endemic on Madeira island, one of them exists only in this cave. Furnas do Cavalum are also part of the cultural heritage of the islanders, as numerous legends are told about

1092-482: The sea and from that band the fog never descended from the range... We saw a great bay..." In calm waters of the early afternoon, on 1 July 1419, João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira disembarked on the beach of Machico, beginning the era of Portuguese discoveries. On the beach a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated by Franciscan priests on the feast of the Visitation (2 June), an image of which accompanied

1131-449: The sea. Porto Santo Island The municipality of Porto Santo occupies the entire island and small neighbouring islands. It was elevated to city status on 6 August 1996. The sole parish of the municipality is also named Porto Santo. The population in 2011 was 5,483, in an area of 42.59 km . The main settlement on the island is Vila Baleira . It appears that some knowledge of Atlantic islands, such as Madeira, existed before

1170-519: The trade, including the families of the Captains- Donatários (Tristão Vaz's descendants). It was the Teixeira family that erected the first Matriz Church in Machico at the end of the 15th century, in honour of Nossa Senhora da Conceição ( Our Lady of Conception ). During the second half of the 15th century, along with Funchal, Machico was elevated to town (1451) and continued to grow, following

1209-425: The voyage, with her offspring, which multiplied catastrophically in a xeric island ecosystem that had evolved in isolation and had never known a flightless mammal. The loss of the native flora laid the island slopes open to erosion and colonization by European weeds that accompanied the settlers. During the first centuries of settlement, life on Porto Santo was harsh, owing to the scarcity of potable water and

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1248-427: The western part of the island slopes from 150 meters to the south coast reaching the sandy beaches of Porto Santo. A third system, in the west-northwest, that includes Cabeço da Bárbara Gomes (227 meters) and Cabeço das Canelinhas (176 meters) is distinct from the areas identified. The island is encircled by an oceanic platform between 20 and 37 km , with a minimum depth of 8 meters (Baixa do Noroeste), and limited by

1287-484: The wettest are November and December. Unlike mountainous Madeira, which effectively traps rain clouds and the moisture of oceanic currents due to its high orography , the comparatively low profile of Porto Santo results in a dry climate. Despite this lack of precipitation, humidity remains high, averaging 77% year-round. The sunniest months are August and September. The main urban area is the city of Vila Baleira ( [ˈvilɐ bɐˈlɐiɾɐ] ), also known as Porto Santo. Although

1326-429: Was accidentally discovered after captains were storm blown into its sheltered harbor. They were in the service of Infante Henrique of Portugal . João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira had been ordered by King John I to discover new territory west of Africa and had been sent off-course by a storm while making the volta do mar westward swing return voyage. The island's name Porto Santo (en: "Holy Harbour")

1365-539: Was derived from the sailors' stories of their discovery of a sheltered bay during the tempest, which was interpreted as divine deliverance. The first Portuguese settlers arrived in the 1420s. Bartolomeu Perestrelo , a member of the team that later explored the Madeira Islands, became the first Captain-donatário of Porto Santo, by royal award in November 1445. It was he who released a female rabbit that had littered on

1404-411: Was followed by extensive erosion , producing two large amphitheatres open to south in the central part of the island. Volcanic activity later resumed, producing scoria cones and lava flows atop the older eroded shield. The most recent volcanic eruptions were on the west-central part of the island only 6,500 years ago, creating more cinder cones and lava flows. Madeira is the largest island of

1443-496: Was formed, its marine vestiges are evident in a calcareous layer in the area of Lameiros, in São Vicente (which was later explored for calcium oxide production). Sea cliffs, such as Cabo Girão , valleys and ravines extend from this central spine, making the interior generally inaccessible. Daily life is concentrated in the many villages at the mouths of the ravines, through which the heavy rains of autumn and winter usually travel to

1482-439: Was responsible for the destruction of various homes, destroying hedges and walls, the main bridge along the ravine and the Chapel of Nosso Senhor dos Milagres . Machico also became a front-line during the Revolta da Madeira ( Madeira Revolt ) in April 1931. Machico is located 17 km northeast of Funchal, northwest of the uninhabitable Savage Islands , 20 km southeast of Santana and west-southwest of Porto Santo in

1521-459: Was the centre of the processing of this spice. As the monk Jerónimo Dias Leite indicated: "...the first sugar sold on this island of Madeira was in the town of Machico where there began a make and collect three arrobas [equivalent to 96 pounds ] to sell, each arroba [32 pounds] sold for five cruzeiros [historical coinage of Portugal]..." . Machico grew to this lucrative commerce, while Machiquenses families become socially powerful and wealthy from

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