Travel Guide > São Vicente > Ponta Delgada

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

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: 50€ / 60€
Gastronomic Specialties
      Filete 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)
      Sonhos and Malassadas (Doughnuts and Yellow Pumpkin Cakes)
      Espetada Regional com Milho Frito (Beef Brochettes with Fried Corn)
 
Traditional Drinks
      Grande Noite de Musica Tradicional “Bailinho” – 1st Weekend in September (Night of Traditional Music
      Circuito da Ponta Delgada em Bicicleta (Bicycle Tour)
 
How to get to Parishes
     
 
Historical Facts about the Parishes
     
 
     
 
Traditional Activities and Popular Culture
      Casa do Romeiro
 
Monuments, Churches, Chapels
      Bom Jesus Church
      Chapel of Aposento
      Senhor Bom Jesus Church
      Chapel of Imaculado Coração de Maria
      Chapel of 1ª Lombada
 
Museums and Exhibitions
      Casa Museu Horácio Bento Gouveia (Museum)
      Solar do Aposento/Museu D. Hilária Freitas (Museum)
      Casa do Ladrilho/Casa Museu Horácio Bento Gouveia (House of Tiles)
 
Parks and Gardens
      Public Garden
 
Peaks and Viewing Points
      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
      Pico – 3ª Lombada (Mountain Peak)
      Topo das Lombada
      Pico (Mountain Peak)
 
Natural Pools/ Streams/ Waterfalls
      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)
      Sea Water Pool
 
Handicraft
      Tapetes de Retalho (Patchwork Rugs)
      Madeira Embroidery
 
Supermarkets
      Mini Supermercado Panorama
      Mini Supermercado Valência
      Mini Mercado Tomásio “Ecoloja”
      Mini Supermercado Isabelinha
 
Casas do Povo
      Casa do Povo da Ponta Delgada
 
Associations and Sports and Cultural Entities
      Associação Desportiva e Recreativa de Ponta Delgada (Sports and Recreational Association)
 
Health Centres
      Centro de Saúde de S. Vicente (Health Centre)
      Health Centre Dr. Raul Dinis
 
Chemists
      Farmácia Portuguesa (Chemist)
 
Civil Defence - Emergency Service
      Serviço Regional de Protecção Civil da Madeira (Madeira Regional Civil Defence Service)
 

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