Porto Moniz
Encyclopedia
Porto Moniz (ˈpoɾtu muˈniʃ) is a municipality in the northwest corner of the island of Madeira
. It is located west of Santana and Machico
, and northwest of Funchal
, linked to Santana and Funchal by a main roadway from Calheta.
, the leader who discovered Porto Santo (1418) with Tristão Vaz Teixeira
and later the island of Madeira with Bartolomeu Perestrelo
(1419).
The municipality was created on 31 October 1835, but was quickly abolished and reestablished successively in 1849-1855, 1867-1871 and again in 1895-1898.
Porto Moniz has a few schools, a few lyceums, a gymnasium, banks, a post office, a small port, beaches and squares or plazas (praças). It also has a large open-air swimming pool
(piscina
), which has been mostly formed out of natural rock pools.
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
. It is located west of Santana and Machico
Machico
Machico is a city and municipality in the northeastern part of the island of Madeira, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The easternmost municipality on the island, it is also the third most populous area; its population was 21,747...
, and northwest of Funchal
Funchal
Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. The city has a population of 112,015 and has been the capital of Madeira for more than five centuries.-Etymology:...
, linked to Santana and Funchal by a main roadway from Calheta.
History
It is unclear when the area of Porto Moniz was first colonized, although it is likely that it occurred at the beginning of the last quarter of the 15th century. Francisco Moniz O Velho, is referred to as one of these first settlers, who had uncultivated lands in this area, and responsible for establishing a farm and chapel. Francisco Moniz was a nobleman from the Algarve, who married Filipa da Câmara (daughter of Garcia Rodrigues da Câmara) who was one of the sons of João Gonçalves ZarcoJoão Gonçalves Zarco
João Gonçalves Zarco was a Portuguese explorer who established settlements and recognition of the Madeira Islands, and was appointed first captain of Funchal by Henry the Navigator.-Life:...
, the leader who discovered Porto Santo (1418) with Tristão Vaz Teixeira
Tristão Vaz Teixeira
Tristão Vaz Teixeira was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who, together with João Gonçalves Zarco and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, discovered the Madeira Islands...
and later the island of Madeira with Bartolomeu Perestrelo
Bartolomeu Perestrelo
Bartolomeu Perestrello , 1st Capitão Donatário, Lord and Governor of the Island of Porto Santo was a Portuguese navigator and explorer that is claimed to have discovered and populated Porto Santo Island together with João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira...
(1419).
The municipality was created on 31 October 1835, but was quickly abolished and reestablished successively in 1849-1855, 1867-1871 and again in 1895-1898.
Geography
Administratively, the four parishes of Porto Moniz include:- Achadas da CruzAchadas da CruzAchadas da Cruz is a civil parish in the municipality of Porto Moniz in the Portuguese islands of Madeira. In 2001 the population was approximately 220 inhabitants, in an area of 7.88 km² along the north-western coast of the island of Madeira...
- the smallest parish in population and area, sharing the highest parish definition with Ribeira da Janela; - Porto Moniz - the largest parish by population (1700 inhabitants) and density (81/km²), it includes the settlement of Santa Maria MadalenaSanta Maria Madalena, MadeiraSanta Maria Madalena, Madeira is a settlement in Porto Moniz parish, Madeira, close to the island's northernmost point, Ponta do Tristão....
and main settlement of Porto Moniz, which is located southeast of Ponta do TristãoPonta do TristãoPonta do Tristão is the northernmost point of the island of Madeira. It is located in Porto Moniz parish, to the northwest of the settlement of Santa Maria Madalena....
, which is the northernmost point on the island (at 332 m above sea level) - Ribeira da JanelaRibeira da JanelaRibeira da Janela is a civil parish in the municipality of Porto Moniz in the Portuguese islands of Madeira. The population in 2001 was 291 inhabitants in an area of 18.48 km²...
- the smallest parish in density, but one of the two highest parishs in the municipality; - SeixalSeixal (Porto Moniz)Seixal is a civil parish in the municipality of Porto Moniz in the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira. In 2001, the population was 716 and the area was 36.37 km² .-History:...
- the largest parish by area.
Porto Moniz has a few schools, a few lyceums, a gymnasium, banks, a post office, a small port, beaches and squares or plazas (praças). It also has a large open-air swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
(piscina
Piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. Roman Catholics usually refer to the drain, and by extension, the basin, as the sacrarium...
), which has been mostly formed out of natural rock pools.