Travel Guide > Santana > Santana
Santana
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Land of the triangle shaped small houses
City and chief town of the municipality, Santana is probably one of the most emblematic tourist areas in Madeira Island. All is due to the houses where its people used to live in former times, which ended up by becoming the greeting card by excellence of the destination. These houses are thatched with straw and in the shape of a triangle.
Besides, who does not remember the interesting image of the ear of maize suspended on oak-trees, by the houses, drying in the sun? These are later used in the family meals and restaurants, or as seeds for new plantations.
However, Santana owes its name to a chapel in its honour, bearing the name Santa Ana (Saint Ana).
The settlement took place around the year 1550, with people from Braga, from Portugal mainland. For that reason, the local inhabitants have the nickname “Bragados”.
At the beginning of the colonization, the land was allotted amongst noblemen and some bourgeois, with the ownership of plots of uncultivated land. They were bound to clear the land and build houses for people and shelter for livestock.
The civil parish of Santana was established by royal charter on June 4, for a curacy captaincy.
At the time, São Jorge Captaincy installed its headquarters in the Chapel of Santa Ana.
In 1835, Santana became a town, and the chief town of the municipality.
On January 1, 2001, Santana became a city.
Besides the above mentioned information, Santana is also known for its good weather and its rural landscape, and where tradition is still present in the daily life of the city.
Although difficult to access, the land is very fertile, granting the civil parish the ideal conditions for the production of wheat, maize, rye and wine.
Handicraft also has a very strong presence in Santana, particularly articles made of linen, wool, stone and wood.
The most important economic activities in Santana include agriculture, the main subsistence base of the population, trade, services, as well as the hotel and catering industry, with a diversified offer of quality.
In terms of tourism, Santana has a lot to see and do namely the levada (water courses) and footpath walks, such as the one from Queimadas to such unique places like Caldeirão Verde or Caldeirão do Inferno. We can also go to Homem em Pé rock, and from there go all the way to the highest point in Madeira Island: Pico Ruivo.
Afterwards, by the sea, there is the wide fajã (flat arable land by the sea), Rocha do Navio, where there are crops of vine and of tropical fruit trees, such as banana trees. Today, a cable car enables an easy access to that beautiful place.
It is never too much to recall that Santana has an historic value in the tourist offer of the Island. For that reason, it was always the civil parish that was most visited by foreign citizens.
Hotel Acciaioli was the fist hotel unit that was established in Santana, in 1850. There was also Hotel Figueira, of a much smaller size. In addition, reference should be made to the boarding house of the widow of Paulino Pinto Correia, the inn of Carlos Moniz Ferreira, and the boarding houses of Joaquim de Freitas and of João Marques de Freitas. But that was in 1938.
Today, Santana has high quality hotel units, such as Quinta do Furão and many rural tourism cottages.
Today, the number of inhabitants is believed to be about 4,500.
The climate is somewhat harsher than in other parts of the Island, both in the summer and winter.
Useful information
Municipal Public Holiday May 25
Area: 93.10 Km2
Bathing Areas: Beaches of São Jorge and Faial civil parishes
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 Santana.
You can also make this connection via Poiso, after passing Monte. After Poiso, go down all the way to Riberio Frio. Further ahead you pass Faial, and then turn left towards Santana.
| THEME PARKS | ||
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Parque Temático da Madeira | ||
Casa Tia Clementina
Casa da Tia Clementina is situated in a pleasant area 5 minutes from the centre of Santana. This ancient house, which has been magnificently restored, has a splendid garden with flowers and vegetables (...)
- Rooms: 8
- Beds: 14
- Location: Santana
- 2pax: 50€
Casas Campo do Pomar
Casas do Campo do Pomar are situated on the estate of Pomar. They have the following typology: Four Studios; Two T1 Houses; One T2 House; One T3 Master House.AddressSítio do Lombo do Curral9230-10 (...)
- Rooms: 16
- Beds: 28
- Location: Santana
- 2pax: 35€ / 120€
| Walks |
| Queimadas - Caldeirão Verde - Queimadas |
| Activities and Events |
| Feast of Santíssimo Sacramento |
| Feast Compadres |
| Folklore Festival |
| Santana Festival |
| Handicraft |
| Weaving |
| Tapestry |
| Regional Costumes and Embroidery |
| Osier Twigs Basketwork and Wax Candles |
| Bonecas de Palha de Milho (dolls made of maize straw) |
| Peaks and Viewing Points |
| Pico das Pedras (Mountain Peak) |
| Pico Caldeira (Mountain Peak) |
| Sítio do Homem em Pé |
| Cascata do Calhau Grosso (waterfall) |
| Parks and Gardens |
| Queimadas Forest Reserve |
| Natural Pools/ Streams/ Waterfalls |
| Ribeiro Bonito |
| Architectonic Monuments |
| Rocha do Navio |
| Typical Houses of Santana |
| Churches |
| Santana Mother Church |
| Chapel of Santo António |
| Health Centres |
| Health Centre |
| Chemists |
| Farmácia Solanja (chemist) |
| Fire Stations |
| Bombeiros Voluntários de Santana (Santana Fire Department) |
| Emergency Numbers |
| Urgências de Santana (Emergency Unit) |
| Police |
| Santana Police Station |
| Taxis |
| Santana Taxi Rank |
| Buses |
| Funchal Timetables |
| Civil Defence - Emergency Service |
| Serviço Regional de Protecção Civil da Madeira (Madeira Regional Civil Defence Service) |
| Other Information |
| Other Information |
| Forests |
| Laurissilva (Laurel Forest) |
Accommodation Availability
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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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