On an elevated plateau, Santo António Da Serra combines a distinctive mountain landscape with lush, exotic vegetation. Its attractions range from golf and a public park to old trails and traditional architecture. When choosing where to stay, it is worth considering the different themes: landscape, leisure and local history each offer their own highlights.
Landscape and trails
The Vereda do “Alvoredo” passes stone walls that form poios, as well as traditional animal shelters and centuries-old trees. Near Santo da Serra, the PR 5 – Vereda das Funduras leads into the Laurisilva forest, which is part of the Natura 2000 network. This forest supports Madeira’s endemic flora and fauna. The trails offer different points of interest: Alvoredo highlights walls, animal shelters and old trees, while Vereda das Funduras draws attention to the forest and its species.
Golf and Quinta do Santo da Serra
Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra opened in 1937 and was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Senior in 1991. The course has 27 holes and is listed as measuring 9,003 metres. It is set within botanical gardens featuring diverse flora and four lakes. The opening and redesign mark two points in the club’s development; the measurements and landscaped setting provide further, distinct points of interest for golf enthusiasts.
Quinta do Santo da Serra is a public park in the parish of Santo António da Serra. It is home to peacocks, fallow deer and Garrano horses; the quinta also has a mini-golf course and a tennis court. The wildlife and sports facilities offer different highlights within the park. As the animals and facilities may change, please check the latest information before your visit.
Local history and architecture
Along the old trails, traditional houses with decorative roofline details and door transoms with coloured glass have been preserved. The design is visible in two distinct places: along the roofline and at the entrances. These houses offer a tangible glimpse of the area’s traditional architecture without requiring a lengthy description of each individual building.
Fonte de Santo António da Serra is a stone fountain with a wide opening beneath a round arch and a semicircular vaulted interior. The fountain is in the late Mannerist style and dates from the late 17th or early 18th century. Its form and dating offer two distinct ways to appreciate the structure: its architectural details and its historical context.
Mostra da Sidra in September
The annual Mostra da Sidra takes place in September and showcases the processing of pêro apples into cider. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates for the relevant year before making your plans.
Discover more destinations: Ribeira Brava, Santa Cruz, Santana.
Go to the main travel overview: Arco De Sao Jorge.
