Santa Cruz offers two distinct themes to consider when planning a trip: architectural and church history, and Praia das Palmeiras beside the Mercado Municipal. If you’re looking for hotels in Santa Cruz, you can start by considering whether historic architecture or the combination of beach and market will shape your stay more.
Architecture and Local History
The Manueline building of the Paços do Concelho was acquired by João de Freitas in 1516 to house the administrative offices of the new town. It was designated a National Monument in 1946. An architectural detail has also been recorded: the doorway has a pointed arch with two small columns and two archivolts. The pointed arch forms the upper section; the archivolts follow it as a stepped frame, while the small columns stand alongside. In this way, the building’s history and its specific architectural form complement each other.
The Quinta do Revoredo reflects a different chapter. John Blandy had the estate built in 1840 as a maritime summer residence; in 1988, it was converted into the Casa da Cultura. The dates mark two distinct phases: its original use as a summer residence and its later conversion. Both the building’s history and the estate’s transformation are among Santa Cruz’s cultural points of interest.
Churches, a Chapel, and the Town’s Name
The Igreja de SĂŁo Salvador is also known as the Igreja Matriz de Santa Cruz. Built in the 16th century, it is in the Gothic-Manueline style. Its main chapel houses a polyptych comprising six oil paintings on wood, also dated to the 16th century. A polyptych is a multi-panel artwork. This church thus brings together its period and style with a specifically described work of art.
The Cruzeiro de Santa Cruz stands in a central town square and is connected with the origin of the town’s name. According to local tradition, João Gonçalves Zarco had a wooden cross made from old cedars; the settlement was then named Santa Cruz. The monument comprises a white marble column and a 19th-century crucifix. Its location and the story behind the town’s name offer two distinct points of reference: a central square for orientation and a story explaining the name Santa Cruz.
Different periods also come together at the Capela de Santo Amaro. The chapel was built in the first half of the 20th century over the remains of a hermitage dating from 1641. The year 1641 therefore refers to the earlier hermitage, not to the construction of the chapel. Festivities in honor of the patron saint are held there every year on January 15; the specific program may vary. If you plan to visit Santa Cruz on this date, it is a good idea to check the latest event information.
Praia das Palmeiras and Mercado Municipal
Praia das Palmeiras is in town, next to the Mercado Municipal de Santa Cruz. The bathing complex has separate swimming pools for adults and children, alongside a pebble beach. As bathing arrangements may change, check the current conditions before your visit.
The neighboring market is a point of interest in its own right: the modernist building was inaugurated in 1962, and various products from the Madeira region are sold there. Together with Praia das Palmeiras, the market offers a specific local point of reference for trip planning, while its architecture and regional products each provide a different glimpse of Santa Cruz.
Discover more destinations: Santo AntĂłnio Da Serra, Santana, Ribeira Brava.
Back to the main travel overview: Arco De Sao Jorge.
