Ponta Delgada , São Vicente Madeira Island

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Ponta Delgada

The “Court of the North”

Ponta Delgada civil parish was described by the Portuguese writer Agostina Bessa Luís as the «Corte do Norte» (Court of the North), because of the level of cultural sophistication and nobility of its population. It seems the promontory upon which it is situated will try to detach itself from the island and float away into the ocean. In fact, the land, the birthplace of the departed Madeiran writer Horácio Bento de Gouveia, is made up of a large fajã (a landfall at the base of a cliff, forming an area of reasonably flat land), and an upper level plateau called lombadas (brows), comprising the 1st, 2nd and 3rd lombadas.
Agostina also described the beauty, the climate and the hospitable population of this village.
Ponta Delgada civil parish belongs to São Vicente municipality and covers an area of 8.8 km2. The parish’s economy relies particularly on agriculture, small retail businesses and services, and tourism.
Ponta Delgada is surrounded by Boaventura parish, on the east, and by São Vicente (Chief Town of the Municipality), on the west .
The climate is very pleasant in this civil parish.
uring the winter, the temperatures do not usually drop below 14ºC (57ºF), and in the summer they average 29ºC (84ºF). In fact, Ponta Delgada is one of the hottest civil parishes within the São Vicente municipality.
Regarding the origins of its name, and according to Gaspar Frutuoso in his book “Saudades da Terra” (nostalgia for the homeland) Ponta Delgada owes its name to being a “this thin stretch of land, fading away into the sea, in deep contrast with the cliff that had crumbled down beside it».
According to some sources, Ponta Delgada became a civil parish in 1552, after the settlement that took place towards de end of the 15th century, when donations of plots of land to aristocrats are known to have been made. Amongst the parish’s settlers were people from Minho, Alentejo e Algarve.

How to Get There

To get to Ponta Delgada from Funchal you must follow the freeway towards Câmara de Lobos - Ribeira Brava. At Ribeira Brava, you must 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 Ponta Delgada.
You can also get to Ponta Delgada through Santana, on the other side, passing São Jorge, Arco de São Jorge and Boaventura, through Estrada Regional 101 (regional road).

Casa da Capelinha

Hotel Casa da Capelinha is situated in a rural environment on the northern coast of Madeira Island, about 50 minutes drive from the airport. It benefits from its proximity to the sea and from the magi (...)

Rooms: 12
Beds: 40
Location: Ponta Delgada
2pax: 45€ / 60€

Activities and Events

Grande Noite de Musica Tradicional “Bailinho” – 1st Weekend in September (Night of Traditional Music

Circuito da Ponta Delgada em Bicicleta (Bicycle Tour)

Handicraft

Tapetes de Retalho (Patchwork Rugs)

Madeira Embroidery

Peaks and Viewing Points

Pico – 3ª Lombada (Mountain Peak)

Topo das Lombada

Pico (Mountain Peak)

Lombo da Ladeira

Miradouro da 1ª Lombada (Viewing Point)

Miradouro da Roça (Viewing Point)

Miradouro da “Vista do Senhor Bom Jesus” (Viewing Point)

Miradouro da “Volta do Jacinto” (Viewing Point)

Oliveira

Parks and Gardens

Public Garden

Natural Pools/ Streams/ Waterfalls

Sea Water Pool

Portinho Bathing Area (Tanque)

Ribeira da Camisa (Stream)

Ribeiro Velho

Cascatas da 1ª Lombada (Waterfalls)

Cascata “Caldeira de São João” – 3ª Lombada (Waterfall)

Cascata das Quebradas (Waterfall)

Museums and Exhibitions

Solar do Aposento/Museu D. Hilária Freitas (Museum)

Casa do Ladrilho/Casa Museu Horácio Bento Gouveia (House of Tiles)

Casa do Romeiro

Churches

Senhor Bom Jesus Church

Chapel of Imaculado Coração de Maria

Health Centres

Centro de Saúde de S. Vicente (Health Centre)

Health Centre Dr. Raul Dinis

Chemists

Farmácia Portuguesa (Chemist)

Hospitals

Centro de Urgências de São Vicente (Emergency Unit)

Hospital da Cruz de Carvalho

Fire Stations

Associação de Bombeiros Voluntários de São Vicente e Porto Moniz (Fire Brigade)

Police

Posto de Polícia de São Vicente (Police Station)

Supermarkets

Mini Supermercado Isabelinha

Mini Supermercado Panorama

Mini Supermercado Valência

Mini Mercado Tomásio “Ecoloja”

Gastronomic Specialty

Sonhos and Malassadas (Doughnuts and Yellow Pumpkin Cakes)

Espetada Regional com Milho Frito (Beef Brochettes with Fried Corn)

Filhete de Espada com Arroz de Marisco (Swordfish Fillet with Seafood Rice)

Milho com Caldeirada (Corn with Chowder) or Peixe com Molho de Vilão (Fish with Sauce Made of Onion,

Sopa de Marisco (Seafood Soup)

Pudins Caseiros de Albacete e de Maracujá (Granadilla Dessert)

Bolo de Mel (Honey Cake)

Taxis

Taxis

Buses

Rodoeste (Bus Company)

Civil Defence - Emergency Service

Serviço Regional de Protecção Civil da Madeira (Madeira Regional Civil Defence Service)

Places of Interest

Chapel of Aposento

Casa do Romeiro

Casa Museu Horácio Bento Gouveia (Museum)

Casa do Pico

Chapel of 1ª Lombada

Casa da Vigia

Bom Jesus Church

Other Information

Post Office

Petrol Station

Lar de Lazer e Abrigo para Idosos (nursing home)

Maritime Beaching Place

Casa do Povo da Ponta Delgada

Associação Desportiva e Recreativa de Ponta Delgada (Sports and Recreational Association)

Full-time Primary School

Oficina Auto (Car Mechanic)

Typical Product

Enxurros Wine Production

Forests

Laurisilva Forest

Accommodation Availability

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Casa do Retiro

Situated near the Santa Teresa Monument, which was erected by ancestors of the current owners, in the village of Canhas. It has open green spaces with Laurissilva trees from the indigenous forest and diverse stone objects which wer (...)

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