Porto da Cruz

Porto da Cruz
Civil Parish
The northern coast of Porto da Cruz, showing the mountainous Penha da Águia, as seen from the lookout of Portela (660 metres)
Coat of arms
Official name: Freguesia do Porto da Cruz
Name origin: Portuguese for port of the cross
Country	Portugal
Autonomous Region	Madeira
Island	Madeira
Municipality	Machico
Center	Porto da Cruz
- elevation	553 m (1,814 ft)
- coordinates	32°44′55″N 16°50′51″W / 32.74861°N 16.84750°W / 32.74861; -16.84750Coordinates: 32°44′55″N 16°50′51″W / 32.74861°N 16.84750°W / 32.74861; -16.84750
Highest point
- elevation	1,040 m (3,412 ft)
Lowest point
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Area	25.22 km2 (10 sq mi)
Population	2,597 (2011)
Density	103 / km2 (267 / sq mi)
LAU	Junta Freguesia
- location	Sítio das Casas Próximas
President Junta	Manuel Marques Spínola (PPD-PSD)
President Assembleia	Cláudio Virgilio Santos Nóbrega (PPD-PSD)
Timezone	WET (UTC0)
- summer (DST)	WEST (UTC+1)
Postal Zone	9225-050
Area Code & Prefix	(+351) 291 XXX XXX
Patron Saint	Nossa Senhora da Piedade
Location of the parish seat of Porto da Cruz in the municipality of Machico, island of Madeira
Wikimedia Commons: Porto da Cruz
Website: http://www.portodacruz.com/portal/v1.1/

Porto da Cruz (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpoɾtu dɐ ˈkɾuʃ], is a civil parish in the municipality of Machico in the northeastern corner of Madeira. The population in 2011 was 2,597,^[1] in an area of 25.22 km².^[2]

History

Church of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe in central Porto Da Cruz

Between sky and water: the public pools in the coastal village of Porto da Cruz

The origin of the communities name came from the fact that the original discoverer affixed a steel cross at the port, in order to better identify the location to ocean travelers.^[3] During the early settlement of the northern coast, goods destined for the northern communities (such as Santo António da Serra) were offloaded in the harbor.^[3]

The parish of Porto da Cruz was created on 26 September 1577, by Jerónimo Barreto, establishing as its patron Nossa Senhora da Piedade (English: Our Lady of Piety).^[3] During the contract signing, the formal donation identified the new church as Nossa Senhora da Glória (English: Our Lady of Glory), but after being completed it was consecrated as Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe (English: Our Lady of Guadaloupe).^[3]

Since its establishment, the parish pertained to the Captaincy of Machico, but in 1835, it was integrated into the municipality of Santana with the administrative reforms of the Liberal regime.^[3] On 19 October 1852, these changes were nullified and the parish returned to the municipality of Machico.^[3]

Cultivation and harvesting of sugar-cane occupied the activities of early settlers.^[3] The aguardente factory, completed after 1858, was part of this industry, converting the grapes and juice into a local spirit, uniquely cultivating the American caste of grape in this territory.^[3]

Geography

The northern parish is enveloped by the mountains of Paul da Serra: Pico da Suna (1040 metres), Pico do Larano (765 metres) and Pico da Maiata (766 metres) are the highest points in the parish. Even along the coast, Penha de Águia (a mountainous escarpment 580 metres in altitude) is difficult to climb; the area, Penha da Águia, means mountain of the eagles, giving the impression that only the birds settle these lands.

The rugged terrain and difficult communication has, over the years, resulted in small agglomerations of inhabitants, resulting in a "community of communities" that includes 78 different localities:^[4]

References

Notes