On the westernmost tip of Madeira Island, standing at 290 meters of altitude, just above the rocky cliffs, there is a lighthouse. This square tower top flashing light dominates the surround cliffs and sea. The white, crystal directional rotating optic spotlight is 312 meters high which may be difficult to see from land on a cloudy day though its flash can be seen above water on a 26 miles range. The Ponta do Pargo lighthouse is established since 1922 and worth a visit not only for its amazing landscape around but also for the history it keeps.

Photo by: Catarina Fagundes

João Gonçalves Zarco was one of the discoverers of Madeira, among with Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Dias. He was the captain that ordered by Henry The Navigator went on the expedition that discovered Porto Santo Island in 1418 and Madeira Island in 1419. As a reward for this Prince Henry nominated him the first donee captain of Funchal.

To celebrate the five hundred years since Madeira discovery, in June 1918 the Municipality of that epoch order the sculptor Francisco Franco a monument in honour of João Gonçalves Zarco. It took 10 years to finish this statue and in 1929 it took part of an International Exhibition in Seville, Spain.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

On the 28th of May of 1934 this monument was inaugurated and put in the centre of Funchal city, on the entrance of the city, for those who came by ship. With the conception of this statue Francisco Franco has launched a new era of sculptures in Portugal, where one can observe heroic figures that belong to history. It was called the Golden Age of Sculpture.

In the 1493 Funchal, situated on a protected bay, was an important port for the ships sent out by Prince Henry to discover new lands. It was this period of great affluence that made possible the construction of the Cathedral.
The architecture of this building is Romanesque and Gothic. The transept is intercepted by a long nave forming a cross. The façade is constructed of reddish-brown basalt, very abundant in Madeira, with a gothic portal as an arch with the royal Portuguese arms on its top and a rose window high above.

The side doors are from the 18th century as the Sacristy and the Chapter House. Another interesting part of this church is the section that forms the exteriors of the High Altar and the Blessed Sacrament Altar.
Built in the Gothic-Manueline (Portuguese style) style, its small helicoids towers are surmounted with some Manueline decorative details related to the Portuguese maritime discoveries.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes

The construction of the College Church has begun in 1629, when mannerism was expanding. Eight intercommunicating chapels open it selves over much higher tribunes.

In 1599 the excavation for the college building was filled in, in 1619 the “Patio das aulas” (lessons courtyard) was built, in 1629 the first stone for the church was buried and only in 1740 the 4 statues at the front face of the church were put there.

First this building was a Jesuitical college but with the rising number of students it was not only for those who studied theology and humanities as it was also the best school in Madeira Island.
In 1759 eleven priests and eight coadjutor coreligionaries where made prisoners in their own college, by Marquês de Pombal who decided to expel them one year later.

The college and church were then closed until 1788 when the seminar was installed. This worked until 1801 when it was obliged to get out by the English troops which transformed the church into Protestant.
For many years the doors of the church were closed and they have only been reopened to the catholic worship in 1850.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes

The Saint Mary of Mercy (protector of the fishermen) Chapel dates from the 17th century. According to the popular story, this chapel was fruit of the devoted sailors, who once saw their boat almost tear into pieces against the rocks of the coast, and so they had promised to construct a Chapel on the top of that small mountain, dedicated to the Holy Virgin.

Since immemorial times, on the third weekend of September, a feast is dedicated to this Fishermen Saint with an original maritime procession. On eve of the solemnity day, the decorated boats wait on Caniçal’s bay, while the boat that has the honor to lead the Virgin statue from its little chapel on the top of the Monte Gordo (Fat Mount) to the main church of the parish is sorted by raffle. On Sunday another procession is carried through to return the image to its chapel, being close followed by a considerable number of crowded fishing boats until the base of the mount, where they go ashore and climb scarped hill until reaching the small e lonely chapel.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes