Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz has an area of 81.5 km² and 43,005 inhabitants, divided into 5 parishes. The village of Santa Cruz is one of the oldest on the island, dating from the beginning of the fifteenth century. The municipality was created on 26 June 1515, was granted city status on 2 August 1996.

As for architectural heritage, we can highlight the Santa Cruz Parish Church, built by King Manuel I, which began as a small chapel built in 1533, and has a Gothic portal, the Caniço Parish Church, founded in 1536. The Chapel of Consolation in the sixteenth century, was reworked in the eighteenth and twentieth centuries and presents works in carved and inlaid wood, religious ornaments in silver and various religious imagery. The Santa Isabel Chapel built in the early eighteenth century, which has a beautiful golden altar. The Mercy Church, dating from the XVI century. The Lady of the Conception Church of the early seventeenth century. The “Nossa Senhora dos Remédios” Church, from the end of the seventeenth century and the Gaula Parish Church, erected in the mid-eighteenth century, retains a filling of liturgical vessels, of which a processional cross from the fifteenth century has the highest importance.

Santa Cruz is also home to some beautiful beaches such as the Praia das Palmeiras, a rocky beach with a great view from which to view the sunset and spend a fantastic day relaxing. The Machico beach, where you can find an alcove with sand brought over from Morocco if rocky beaches aren’t your thing. The Prainha Beach is also home to a sand beach; however, this is a black sand beach so if that doesn’t bother you then you’re in for a treat!

The Pico do Facho is a great viewpoint to spend some time at as from there, weather permitting, and good visibility conditions met, you can see the Island of Porto Santo and even get a glimpse of the highest peak in Madeira, Pico Ruivo.