Travel Guide > São Vicente > Boa Ventura
Boaventura
Land of Tranquillity
Boaventura civil parish has been known for a long time. However, only the improvement of the accessibilities has enabled it to cease being just a passing place, between Ponta Delgada and Arco de São Jorge.
With a mantle of green covering its surrounding slopes and the village’s great tranquillity, Boaventura has been sought precisely due to the peacefulness that it offers. One of the greatest Portuguese poets, Antero de Quental, did precisely that, on the second half of the 19th century, when he spent a long time in the parish. Quental belonged to the so called Geração de Setenta (Seventy’s Generation), a group that aimed at renewing the Portuguese mentality, and took part in the Casino Conferences. Amongst other, Quental was friend with some of the greatest Portuguese writers such as Eça de Queirós and Oliveira Martins, and his work ranges from poetry to philosophical writing.
Located in a mountainous area, considered by many as a true sanctuary of nature, Boaventura is characterised by magnificent valleys and crossed by numerous water courses.
The economy of the area is, thus, based on agriculture. Small shops, services and tourism are also important for the area’s economy.
Boaventura’s climate is very mild. In fact, during the winter the temperature usually never drops below 13 ºC (55 ºF), whereas during the Summer temperature averages around 26 ºC (79ºF).
Regarding the origins of the name, there are no consensual theories about it. Boaventura features its current designation since mid 16th century or even before.
For almost three centuries, the lands that constitute Boaventura civil parish, however, used to belong to Ponta Delgada civil parish, from which they were separated in the year 1836.
There are accounts, though, that during the primitive colonization times, Pedro Gomes Galdo was one of the first settlers who possessed many plots of uncultivated land, and is considered to be one of the oldest colonisers of the parish.
The foundation of São Cristóvão is ascribed to Pedro Galdo, or one of his descendants.
With time, the population spread out to the hillsides and the inland, where until not so long ago, it lived almost in seclusion from the rest of the world.
Boaventura has several levadas (water-courses): those from Achada Grande, Levada Grande, which extends it irrigation system all the way to Ponta Delgada, Faias, Achada dos Alves and Pastel, and Achada or Serrão. All have their source at the Ribeira de Moinhos brook.
Besides, according to the “Elucidário Madeirense”, on the road connecting the parish with Arco de S. Jorge, there is a part that is on the right bank of Ribeira do Porco brook that hangs over the sea. This place is known as Engrosa, due to the winding way it was constructed on the scarp, held upright on a high rock. In addition, according to this respectable publication, a plant known as Ensaião “Sempervivum glandulosum”, of the “Crassulaceas” family, abundantly grows from the cracks of that rock. Ensaião has been described by William Longman in “Frazer's Magazine”, of August 1875, as: «...they grow so profusely that they overlap each other, and with such degree of development that they far exceed what is seen in Kew or in other botanical gardens. The most usual ones exceed the size of a hat. Their extremities present a red-brownish colour, with a gradual transition to a light green core”.
How to get there
To get to Boaventura from Funchal, you need to follow the freeway towards Câmara de Lobos - Ribeira Brava. Having arrived at Ribeira Brava, follow the Estrada Regional 101 (regional road) towards the high mountains, away from the houses, heading towards São Vicente. You can take the fast route via the tunnel, or you can go via the old road.
After having arrived at São Vicente, as soon as you get to the sea, you must turn right towards Boaventura, passing by Ponta Delgada.
You can also get to Boaventura through Santana, on the other side, passing São Jorge and Arco de São Jorge, through the Estrada Regional 101 (regional road).
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