Porto Moniz is the furthest parish from Funchal but one of the most touristic places in Madeira Island. Like a small terrace lying over the sea, Porto Moniz is known by its natural swimming pools, naturally made by lava and complemented with a little of too much help from men.

Contrary to most of Fajãs (Madeira word to describe the lower terraces near the sea), Porto Moniz and Seixal were originated by volcanic lava that has felt down from the high plateau Paul da Serra and not by the falling slopes.

Going up from Porto Moniz to Santa one can see the agriculture differences, with vineyards at first and then vegetables and fruit trees on a higher elevation.

Arriving to Santa of Porto Moniz, a small population of this parish, soon one find the Santa Madalena Church and further the land where the most important agriculture and cattle fair of Madeira takes place.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes

Very well conserved, near the central square of Santo António da Serra, usually known in its short version, Santo da Serra, Quinta do Santo has a very rich collection of exotic and indigenous plants, as well as some animals.

Photo by Tânia Pestana

Following down the main path one will get to a view point where the eastern part of the island may be seen. The valley of Machico, Ponta de São Lourenço and, when the weather conditions allow, Porto Santo Island are part of the landscape of this view point.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

The longest plateau, as well as the highest one in Madeira Island, with 20 square kilometres of area is Paul da Serra. Due to the 3 thousand mm/year of rain, combined with the topography and permeability of soil and rocks this is like a big reservoir of water for the whole island.

The largest part of Paul da Serra is on the west side, after Rabaçal, with altitudes that vary between 14 thousand and 15 thousand meters. On this vast area one can notice small peaks that are remains from the volcanic cones.

The highest peak of the only Madeira Island plateau is Pico Ruivo of Paul with 1640 meters high, from where one can admire the extension of all the plateau.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes

On the west part of Funchal city, with an area of about 36 thousand square meters, it is situated the Santa Catarina Park. Beyond a remarkable pleasure area, this park has a rich collection of tropical and subtropical plants. Bunya Pines, Kawris of the East Indies, Palm Trees, Floss Silk Trees, Flame Trees, Indian Rubber Trees, Camphor Trees, Coral Trees, Magnolias and Jacarandas are just some of the exotic species that one may admire here.

Spread through the green field of Santa Catarina’s Park, there are some statues like the Sowing Man, exhibited for the first time in Paris, in 1924, the Christopher Columbus and the Infante (Portuguese word that means a younger prince of royal blood) D. Henrique, the man who sent the ones who were going to be the discoverers of Madeira.

Another monument at this park is the Santa Catarina Chapel which construction was ordered by the wife of João Gonçalves Zarco, the lord of the province of Funchal, in the first fourth part of the 15th century.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes

Stucked between land and sea, with a 590 meters high rock, Penha d’Águia, as west border, Porto da Cruz is an agricultural parish where houses are extended in a line on the top of the hills.

Known for its “American” table wine, as it is called by locals due to the type of grapes from which is made, Porto da Cruz was once also known for the production of sugarcane sugar. In fact, one of the main attractions of this small town is its sugar cane factory that is operating since 1927.

From its pier, that while some years was the only access to the parish, one can admire the panoramic view of Madeira’s North coast that runs of to east until Ponta de São Lourenço. It is also curious to see the sea and wind erosion effects on the rocks near the pier.

On Porto da Cruz dark sand beach one can find a geological species of a plutonic rock that some say it is unique in the world.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes