Travel Guide > Santana > Arco de São Jorge

Arco de São Jorge

Quietness and pleasant weather


The name Arco de São Jorge was inspired by the configuration of the surrounding hills, of an arch shaped form. It has its own very particular micro-climate, granting this area exceptional conditions for agriculture and tourism, making this the ideal place to rest in one of the existing local accommodation units.
 
Up to 1676, the land of the today’s civil parish was part of São Jorge, Thus the “addition” “São Jorge” to its name.
Arco de São Jorge became a civil parish on December 28, 1676.
 
Although the exact date is unknown, in the beginning of the 16th century, Arco de São Jorge was already in an advanced stage of its settlement. The origin of the settlement is identical to those of the remaining places on the north of the Island: settlers came from Portugal mainland, particularly from Minho and Algarve.

Its first small chapel, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Mercy), was located at the current Sítio dos Casais and was erected by Bishop D. Frei António Teles.
By royal charter, on January 18, 1740, a parish church was built, as the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade was by then in a deplorable state of preservation.
 
The new church was blessed on March 19, 1744, by Father Manuel da Costa, and Saint Joseph became the patron saint of this new place of worship.
 
On March 31, 1748, an earthquake caused the parish church a lot of damages. In fact, as it can be read on a book called “Saudades da Terra” (Missing the Homeland): “The wall of the high altar arch was divided in a great crack. The roof was damaged and much of the buttress was destroyed.”
The parish of Arco de São Jorge has very fertile land, where vine is cultivated. Formerly, however, the predominant cultures were of products like cereal, sugar cane, osier twigs, vegetables and fruit.
For some time now, the parish has awakened itself to tourism, offering several quality rural tourism accommodations.
 
Arco de São Jorge has about 520 inhabitants.
In terms of climate, Arco de São Jorge has hot summers and somewhat rainy winters, with average temperatures around 16 ºC (61 ºF) all year round.
 
 
 
How to get there

From Funchal, take the freeway in the direction of Aeroporto (airport) and Machico. Follow the signposts to Porto da Cruz, via the old Estrada Regional 101(regional road). Carry on towards Porto da Cruz, Faial and Santana. Keep on going, as Arco de São Jorge is further ahead, after São Jorge.
However, there is a quicker way to get there.
 
From Funchal, take the freeway in the direction of Ribeira Brava (Funchal - Ribeira Brava). Take the Ribeira Brava turnoff and follow the Estrada Regional 101 (regional road) towards the high mountains and less housing in the direction of São Vicente.
 
After passing São Vicente, carry on until you get to the coastal road and turn right in the direction of Boaventura, passing by Ponta Delgada.
Arco de São Jorge is located right after Boaventura.