Encumeada de São Vicente
The Encumeada de São Vicente is a high pass over 1,000 metres on Madeira's central ridge between Serra de Água and São Vicente, from which both north and south coasts are visible. A tourist rest house was built nearby in 1939.
This high ridge lies between the parishes (freguesias) of Serra de Água (‘water sawmill’) and São Vicente (‘St Vincent’), at an altitude of over a thousand metres, on the crest of the mountain range that runs lengthwise through the interior of Madeira. The road from Ribeira Brava (‘wild river’) to São Vicente passes here, and from this point both the northern and southern coasts of the island can be seen – or, as the local people say, ‘you can see the north sea and the south sea’, which is indeed the case on days with clear horizons. In 1939 the Madeira Tourism Delegation had a comfortable rest house and shelter built in the parish of Serra de Água; it is much to be regretted that this building was not put up closer to that height.
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São Vicente
The Encumeada de São Vicente is a pass over 1,000 metres high on Madeira's central ridge between Serra de Água and São Vicente, from which both the north and south coasts are visible. It is cited as the best-known encumeada on the island and a recommended viewpoint. It has been reachable by car since 1916, and a tourist rest house was built nearby in 1939.
- Ribeira Brava
Starting point of the road that crosses the pass to São Vicente.
Ribeira Brava is one of Madeira's oldest parishes, named after its violent stream, with a town, port and quay. The Elucidário covers its collegiate church and its paintings, its Franciscan convent and chapels, and its São Pedro festival with a boat and sword dance. It also records riots against the metric system and deaths when troops fired on the people during the 1884 election.
- São Vicente
Northern parish bordering the pass and destination of the road.
São Vicente is described as the largest and most populous parish of northern Madeira and the seat of the only town on the north coast. The Elucidário covers its settlement, church history, localities and landscape, and the deadly landslide of 1929.
- Serra de Água
Ribeira Brava. Parish bordering the pass, where the 1939 rest house was built.
Serra de Água is an inland parish of Ribeira Brava whose name recalls former water-powered sawmills; it was created as a vicarage in 1676 and in 1834 formed part of Funchal municipality. It borders Estreito de Câmara de Lobos and the Encumeada pass, where a rest house was built in 1939, is a cherry-growing area, and was the planned site of a hydro-electric power station.