This municipal capital is the most important and highly populated parish in the north of Madeira.
The centre was restored a few years ago, making the town one of Madeira’s most pleasant places to visit.
One of the most symbolic features in São Vicente is a small chapel built in 1692 inside a basalt rock at the mouth of the stream that runs through the town. This is where the Urban park is located, a green area with gardens, ponds and footpaths making it a pleasant leisure spot.
But São Vicente also attracts sport lovers. Lots of surfers come here to ride waves that are perfect for high flying.
Ponta Delgada was described by the writer Agustina Bessa Luís as the “Royal Court of the North”, thanks to the nobility and cultural worth of its population. Overlooking the sea, it seems to want to break free of the island and sail off into the ocean.
The mother church was rebuilt in 1908. Its roof features magnificent paintings of biblical figures and scenes from the discovery of Madeira.
Boaventura, located in the mountains, is known for its surprising valleys, cleft by water courses surrounded by a variety of flora from the Laurissilva Forest.
This village also has a belvedere offering magnificent views of the island’s northern landscapes.
Miradouro da Encumeada
If you go up to Serra d'Água, you will find two of the island’s deepest valleys. One takes us southwards to Ribeira Brava and the other northwards to São Vicente.
Boca da Encumeada, over 1,000 metres above sea level, offers a splendid view of the sea to the north and south and the crest of the mountain range that crosses inland Madeira. This area is very popular with hikers.
Grutas de São Vicente
These caves are about 400,000 years old, dating back to the time when the Paul da Serra Plateau still produced lava. Instead of being ejected, the lava penetrated points in the rocks creating small underground tunnels. It is possible to make an impressive, 20-minute journey to the centre of the earth along these passages.
Population: 6,198
Bathing areas: São Vicente Bathing Zone, Ponta Delgada Swimming Pool and Bathing Zone.