Santana

History

The Portugese word Santana was taken from Sant'Ana, its patron saint. Founded in the vicinity of a chapel, it includes six major parishes: São Roque do Faial, Arco de São Jorge, Santana (municipal seat), Ilha, and São Jorge. Santana (parish) has the largest population, while Arco de São Jorge has the smallest number of residents in the whole village.

Economy

Santana's economic activities centers mostly in craftwork and agriculture, especially fruits, cereals (corn), vineyards, and sugar cane. Crops are grown without the use of pesticides or fertilisers to deter pests. This makes the appearance of their produce look unsightly; although locals often state that an ugly produce tastes the best. Many tourists attest to this belief as well.

Santana also has a strong tourism industry, thanks to many of its tourist attractions, such as its Palheiros (“A” shaped houses) and the Madeira Theme Park.

Culture

The Santana locals are simple, hardworking, and hospitable. Their culture is both modern and traditional at the same time, with religion playing an important part in the place. The annual 48 hours folk dance festival in July show cases various traditional dance arts and delicacies from different regions; whilst the locals’ passion with agriculture are reflected in its custard apple and lemon festivals.

How to get there

By Car:
Pick the E101 road from Funchal and head towards Santa Cruz eastward. Keep on the ER101 after about 20 km, as you reach Machico. Pass by Porto da Cruz and follow the remaining signs to Santana.

By Bus:
Go to the stop near the cable car terminal on the Avenida do Mar, which is parallel to the seafront promenade. Take Horario Buses with line numbers 56, 103, and 138, which go via Machico or Ribeiro Frio. Most journeys will take around 2 hours to complete.

There are buses that operate inside Funchal; while there are also those that provide long distance services as well (No. 12). However, all of them depart from strands within Avenida do Mar, which goes from the São Lourenço palace to the Monte cable car station. You have to buy a ticket in advance if you want to get on at the Avenida do Mar, but you can buy tickets from bus drivers if you are going elsewhere. Take note that tickets bought at the kiosk are cheaper than the ones bought on the bus.

Sights:

Palheiros

You can never go to Santana without seeing one of its most popular tourist attractions - the Palheiros. Triangular in shape, these whimsical houses have straw roofs that go all the way to the base of the house. Often, the Palheiros have the traditional red doors, blue-trimmed windows, and white walls for their design.

Now considered as museum villages, these small houses date back all the way from the 16th Century and were used as houses by old rural families. Today, it is more of a tourist attraction than a practical dwelling place.

Rocha do Navio Nature Reserve

Located between Ponta de São Jorge and Ponta do Clérigo this protected natural reserve was created to protect marine fauna. It houses spectacular sceneries, from sea birds like the Cagarra and Garajau, to even the possibility of monk seals roaming its coastal areas.

Where: Northeast coast of the Island in Santana

Laurissilva Forest

This natural, subtropical forest dominates the mountainous landscapes of Santana, and is classified as a 'UNESCO World Heritage Site'. Water can be constantly found within the area, which contributes to the natural balance of the Madeira island. Its name comes from the Latin word, 'silva' or forest; and 'laurus' (laurel), an arboreal species found in the forest.

A tip to travellers: If you want to visit the place, you must book in advance with the Madeira Natural Park