Travel Guide > Calheta > Arco da Calheta
Arco da Calheta
One of the first colonised areas
The configuration of the hills in a semi-circle, reminding of an arch, ended up by motivating the first settlers to call Arco da Calheta (Calheta arch) to this civil parish in the Calheta municipality.
Arco da Calheta civil parish was one of the first places in Madeira Island being colonised and having the first farms established after the island was discovered.
The settlement, manly from Portuguese, took place between 1425 and 1461.
Located by the sea, between Ledo and Luairão streams, Arco da Calheta is circumscribed between the civil parishes of Madalena do Mar, Canhas and Calheta.
Arco da Calheta, separated from Calheta in 1472, established its headquarters at the chapel of S. Brás.
The mother church was rebuilt in 1744.
Arco da Calheta has currently around 4,000 inhabitants. Its economic activities include agriculture and cattle breeding, wood sawing, carpentry, blacksmith’s workshops, bread making, blocks manufacture, trade and services.
In terms of climate, the summer is very hot, but the winter is somewhat harsher.
How to Get There
To get to Arco da Calheta from Funchal you need to take the freeway towards Ribeira Brava (Funchal-Ribeira Brava). Then take the Estrada Regional 101 (regional road) in the direction of Calheta. After that, just follow the signposts.
Quinta do Conde
This historic estate dates back to the sixteenth century. It was established by the Viscounts of Torre Bela, direct descendants of the first settlers of Madeira. Its private Chapel, built in the 16th (...)
- Rooms: 9
- Beds: 12
- Location: Arco da Calheta
- 2pax: 40€
| Activities and Events |
| Feast of Senhor S. Brás – February 3 |
| Feast of Espírito Santo - July |
| Festa do Senhor (Feast of the Lord) - July |
| Feast of Nossa Senhora do Loreto – December 8 |
| Feast of Nossa Senhora da Conceição – December 8 |
| Handicraft |
| Handicraft |
| Peaks and Viewing Points |
| Pico do Arco (Mountain Peak) |
| Miradouro da Achada de Santo Antão (Viewing Point) |
| Sítio do Pico do Arco |
| Sítio das Florenças |
| Fajã do Mar Beach |
| Parks and Gardens |
| Public Park |
| Playground |
| Architectonic Monuments |
| Chapel of Sagrado Coração de Jesus |
| Quinta do Conde (Farmhouse) |
| Chapel of Loreto |
| Chapel of Conceição |
| Chapel of Nazaré |
| Churches |
| Padroeiro São Brás Mother Church |
| Nossa Senhora do Loreto Church |
| Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde |
| Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fátima |
| Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Vida |
| Health Centres |
| Centro de Saúde do Arco da Calheta (Health Centre) |
| Chemists |
| Farmácia do Arco (Chemist) |
| Hospitals |
| Hospitals/ Emergency Units |
| Fire Stations |
| Bombeiros Voluntários da Calheta (Fire Brigade) |
| Police |
| PSP da Calheta (Police Station) |
| Flowers |
| Flowers |
| Taxis |
| Lombo da Estrela Taxi Rank |
| Arco da Calheta Taxi Rank |
| Buses |
| Rodoeste (Bus Company) |
| Civil Defence - Emergency Service |
| Serviço Regional de Protecção Civil da Madeira (Madeira Regional Civil Defence Service) |
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Quinta S.Lourenço
This estate is comprised of 1.200 metres square of open green space. Its tranquillity, pure fresh air and overwhelming natural beauty, with the ocean in the foreground, assures you of a relaxing holiday in direct contact with natur (...)
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