porto santo guide Makete Capa EN.indd 2 12/10/15 12:15 . content .02 porto santo .04 wellness at porto santo .06 how to get to porto santo .10 what to see .18 what to do .20 sports .26 culture traditional festivities .30 useful information porto santo guide . 1 Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 1 12/10/01 08:45 porto santo 2 . porto santo guide Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 2 12/10/01 08:45 Porto Santo is the smaller of the inhabited islands Vila Baleira can tell stories and legends of the distant and of the Madeira Archipelago. It lies in the Atlantic recent past, in fact a visit to the Christopher Columbus Ocean, at the South-western tip of Europe, about Museum will allow you to get to know the house in which 500 km from the coast of Africa and 1000 km from he once lived. Continental Europe. It takes around 1hr 30 min to fly The primitive beauty of the landscape enchants anyone from Lisbon to Porto Santo Island. walking the paths or cycling the island’s trails. First discovered back in 1418, by Portuguese sailors, this The safety, along with the warm welcome of its locals, the archipelago is formed by the islands of Madeira and Porto pleasures that nature has to offer, the beautiful beaches of Santo as well as the uninhabited Selvagens and Desertas fine sand, and the calm sea currents, turn Porto Santo island Islands. The friendliness and hospitality of its locals, the into a privileged location amongst other similar destinations. mild climate all year around, the spectacular unspoilt Come and get to know an island where calm and landscapes and the richness and variety of the natural, tranquillity reign! historical and cultural resources are just some of the reasons why you should discover this paradise yourself. A golden isle, washed by turquoise sea and where peace and quiet reign supreme, is all you need for a truly relaxing holiday. This Atlantic island boasts 9 km fine golden sands ideal for sunbathing and swimming. Health and wellness go hand in hand on this magnificent beach as, in addition to its crystalline waters, its sands have rare therapeutic properties. The sand is soft, fine and smooth and consists mainly of calcium carbonate in the form of calcite, which has special thermal qualities. porto santo guide . 3 Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 3 12/10/01 08:45 wellness at porto santo 4 . porto santo guide Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 4 12/10/01 08:45 The white sands, the long shore and the warm and and iodine, all benefic elements for your health. Likewise, crystalline waters are not Porto Santo’s only charming Porto Santo’s spring waters, both bicarbonate and sodic, attractions. This holidaymaker’s paradise is also coveted are also rich in essential components to the well-being of for the countless therapeutic properties of its sands and our body. waters, which combine in various forms of treatments. The treatment of orthopedic, rheumatic and physiatric thalassotherapy diseases is merely an example of the many healing Stress, exhaustion, fatigue, sedentariness, dietary opportunities of this destination, located only 50 km away deficiencies, intoxication caused by tobacco, osteoarthritis, from the island of Madeira. digestive disorders and postpartum recovery are some And that’s not all. The seawater’s richness in iodine, of various treatments offered by the island’s center of calcium and magnesium is another reason why this island Thalassotherapy, which means “cure by the sea” in Greek. is the ideal place to recover from the body’s lack of mineral Come visit this unique center in Porto Santo and relax salts, caused by stress and fatigue. while you take care of yourself and of your health. porto Santo’s therapeutic sand Unlike most beaches, the sand on Porto Santo is essentially carbonated, formed by sediments of corals, seashells and sea-urchins. With scientifically proven results, these sands relieve rheumatic pains and help recover bone fractures, and are used in the treatments developed by the Geomedicine Centre on the island. porto santo’s water Seawater is used in thalassotherapy treatments, due to its substantially elevated quantities of chromium, strontium porto santo guide . 5 Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 5 12/10/01 08:45 how to get to porto santo 6 . porto santo guide Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 6 12/10/01 08:45 by air in funchal Head office and sales: There are daily flights between Madeira and Porto Santo, 6, Rua da Praia and also from Lisbon to Porto Santo all year round. 9000-503 Funchal Phone: (+351) 291 210 300; Fax: (+351) 291 226 434 Porto Santo Airport 2km from Vila Baleira Port of Funchal Phone: (+351) 291 980 120; Fax: (+351) 291 980 121 Phone: (+351) 291 241 881/2; Fax: (+351) 291 214 888 E-mail: [email protected] www.anam.pt in porto santo ICAO code: LPPS 6/7th, shop, Rua Estêvão de Alencastre IATA code: PXO 9400-161 Porto Santo Phone: (+351) 291 982 938; Fax: (+351) 291 982 543 by sea Ferry-boat A modern ferry called Lobo Marinho belonging to the Porto Santo Line carries passengers and vehicles between Madeira and Porto Santo every day taking around 2 hrs. 30 min. The vessel can carry up to 1.153 passengers. Porto Santo Line (inter-island ferry) E-mail: [email protected] www.portosantoline.pt porto santo guide . 7 Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 7 12/10/01 08:45 porto santo marina Porto Santo Marina operated by Assistência Náutica 33°/16° is located inside Porto Santo Harbour. It has berths at floating pontoons for 165 vessels of 4 to 15 metres in length. All berths are equipped with water and electricity supplies. Showers, toilets, a laundry, a repair shop, a reception and a fax service are some of facilities available. Assistência Náutica 33° 16° - (Porto Santo Marina) 16° 18’40” W 33° 03’21” N Phone: (+351) 291 980 080; Fax: (+351) 291 983 742 Email: [email protected] www.quintadolorde.pt 8 . porto santo guide Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 8 12/10/01 08:45 transportations Rodavante Porto Santo Airport taxis Tel. (+351) 291 982 925 www.rodavante.com Av. Dr. Manuel Gregório Pestana Júnior Phone: (+351) 291 982 123 SIXT Porto Santo Airport buses Tel. (+351) 291 983 033 Tours of the island from and the Port www.sixt.pt Downtown near petrol station Phone: (+351) 291 982 780 / 291 982 403 rent-a-cars Bravacar Porto Santo Airport Tel. (+351) 291 708 900 www.bravacar.com.pt Moinho Hotel Vila Baleira- lj 1 Tel. (+351) 291 982 141 Porto Santo Airport Tel. (+351) 291 983 260 /291 982 780 www.moinho-rentacar.com porto santo guide . 9 Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 9 12/10/01 08:45 what to see 10 . porto santo guide Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 10 12/10/01 08:45 christopher columbus museum house quinta das palmeiras The Christopher Columbus Museum House, Porto Santo’s This mini-zoo and botanical garden in Linhares on a main cultural attraction, marks the discoverer’s presence hill in the central western part of the island houses a on the island. The museum recreates the environment in vast number of birds and plants in an area of 5,380 m2 which the explorer lived for a time. covered with luxuriant vegetation. Columbus’s house consists of two buildings, the older of which dates back to his time on the island. On summertime open from 10 am to 5 pm. There we can see portraits of Columbus from the 16th to In winter open from 10 am to 1pm and from 3 pm to 5pm. the 20th century and maps showing his different routes. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Sitio dos Linhares 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed 9400-020 Porto Santo Mondays and public holidays. Phone: (+351) 291 983 625 On summertime: From July to September from Tuesday E-mail: [email protected] to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to www.quintadaspalmeirasportosanto.com 7 p.m. Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed Mondays and public holidays. 2 and 4, Travessa da Sacristia 9400-176 Porto Santo Phone: (+351) 291 983 405 Fax: (+351) 291 983 840 E-mail: [email protected] www.museucolombo-portosanto.com porto santo guide . 11 Makete PT Porto Santo I II.indd 11 12/10/01 08:45 handicraft centre This centre is in the town centre near the old quay and displays and sells handicrafts from the Madeira Islands. You can also watch craftsmen working here. Centro de Artesanato Porto Santo Av. Manuel Gregório Pestana Júnior 9400-741 Porto Santo nossa senhora da graça chapel (our lady of grace) This chapel is one of the oldest churches built in Porto Santo before 1533. It was destroyed in 1812 and rebuilt in 1951. It is closely connected with the island’s history and it was here that many of the inhabitants took refuge from pirate attacks. fort of san jose The old fort of San Jose is located in a high part of the city and consists of a set of 8 small iron cannons, which once served as a defence system of the island.