Quinta Grande

Quinta Grande
Civil Parish
The main settlement of Quinta Grande showing the modern expressway passing through the escarpments
Official name: Freguesia da Quinta Grande
Name origin: Portuguese for large farm
Country  Portugal
Region  Madeira
Island Madeira
Municipality Câmara de Lobos
Center Quinta Grande
 - elevation 618 m (2,028 ft)
 - coordinates 32°39′56″N 17°0′35″W / 32.66556°N 17.00972°WCoordinates: 32°39′56″N 17°0′35″W / 32.66556°N 17.00972°W
Lowest point
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Area 4.14 km2 (2 sq mi)
Population 2,156 (2001)
Density 520.77 / km2 (1,349 / sq mi)
Settlement fl. 1835
 - Parish 24 July 1848
LAU Junta Freguesia
 - location Estrada Padre António Dinis Henrique
President Junta Manuel Pedro Pinto (PPD-PSD)
Timezone WET (UTC0)
 - summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)
Postal Zone 9300-261
Area Code & Prefix (+351) 291 XXX XXX
Patron Saint Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
Location of the parish seat of Quinta Grande in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, island of Madeira
Wikimedia Commons: Quinta Grande

Quinta Grande, created on 24 July 1848, is one of the five civil parishes that constitute the municipality of Câmara de Lobos in the archipelago of Madeira. The population in 2011 was 2,099,[1] in an area of 4.14 km².[2] The community is oriented around agriculture primarily, although it has become an important touristic stop in Madeira, due to the rock cliff promontory Cabo Girão, considered the highest promontory in Europe (580 metres).

Geography

The radio and telephone towers located in the eastern escarpment of Quinta Grande

Quinta Grande is situated within a river-valley and buttressed between the parishes of Campanário and Câmara de Lobos in the southwest coast of the island. The southeast part of the parish (along the coast) comprises Cabo Girão, a high escarpment and shear cliff face. The residential and commercial buildings of this parish are located primarily along the river course, and, with forest, natural vegetation and terraced fields occupying the interior of the parish. The western part of the parish, although occupied by homes is a forested ridge and the eastern ridge is occupied by communication towers, radio and television facilities. Some vineyards and farmlands surround the parish to the north and east, and mostly concentrate on the cultivation of grapes for the production of Madeira Wine.

References