Belvederes
Original title: Mirantes
Entry on the viewpoints (mirantes or miradouros) of Madeira, listing those in Funchal and elsewhere and recalling the viewpoints recommended by Civil Governor José Silvestre Ribeiro in 1850.
Viewpoints of Madeira
The astonishing beauty of the Madeiran landscape, which can never be praised enough (see Landscape of Madeira), unfolds marvellously across terrain of such rugged and capricious relief. It frequently offers many spots and places that invite rapt contemplation of the widest and most enchanting horizons. At these privileged points the need to build small viewpoints comes readily to mind, so that visitors may enjoy a welcome rest and the spiritual pleasure that nature can so lavishly afford them there. A few comfortable benches, shade trees and perhaps a ‘pergola’ clothed in some ornamental plant would serve as the simple and indispensable adornment of such places. Funchal has several of these viewpoints, such as those of ‘Montanha’, ‘Babosas’ and ‘Pico dos Barcelos’, the churchyards of the church of Monte, the church of Santo António (St Anthony of Padua), the church of São Martinho (St Martin of Tours) and the church of São Gonçalo (St Gonsalo of Amarante), ‘Largo António Nobre’, ‘Largo das Cruzes’ and still others, but not all of them offer the indispensable comfort that would encourage an attractive and lingering visit.
Scattered over the whole surface of the island are many points overlooking beautiful stretches of enchanting landscape, where such viewpoints ought to be built, a task now made easier by the opening of the new roads.
On 27 July 1850 the Civil Governor José Silvestre Ribeiro recommended to the director of Public Works, Tibério Augusto Blanc, the construction of a belvedere (mirante) at the locality of Macelas (‘chamomiles’), in the municipality (concelho) of Machico, because of the astonishing view to be enjoyed from there. The belvedere was built shortly afterwards and, as is well known, still stands today. Besides the belvedere at Macelas, J. Silvestre Ribeiro recommended building a belvedere at Portela (‘mountain pass’), in the municipality of Machico, and another at Eira do Serrado (‘threshing floor of the ridge’), in the municipality of Funchal.
Near the Levada do Juncal (irrigation channel), about a quarter of an hour from the mountain shelter at Ribeiro Frio (‘cold brook’), there is a belvedere built by order of the Public Works Department, from which there are majestic views over the Ribeira da Metade (‘halfway stream’).
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 01Place
Places mentioned · 18- Belvederes · Subject
Funchal
The Elucidário's entry on the viewpoints (mirantes or miradouros) of Madeira. It lists those in Funchal and elsewhere and recalls the viewpoints recommended by Civil Governor José Silvestre Ribeiro in 1850.
- Babosas
Funchal. Viewpoint in Funchal.
Babosas is a locality in Monte parish with a small square and a viewpoint over the Curral dos Romeiros. It has been known as Conceição since a chapel was built there in 1906.
- Church of Monte
Funchal. Its churchyard serves as a viewpoint.
The Igreja do Monte is the church of Monte parish, Funchal, and its churchyard serves as a viewpoint. In 1846 the council resolved to build a travellers' shelter beside it.
- Church of St Anthony
Funchal. Its churchyard serves as a viewpoint.
The Igreja de Santo António is the parish church of Santo António, Funchal, and its churchyard serves as a viewpoint. António de Leme and his wife were buried there. The lower of the Picos de Santo António stands near it, and it marks one end of the Caminho de Luís Miranda.
- Church of St Gonçalo
Funchal. Its churchyard serves as a viewpoint.
Its churchyard serves as a viewpoint.
- Church of St Martin
Funchal. Its churchyard serves as a viewpoint.
The Igreja de São Martinho is the church of the parish of São Martinho in Funchal and holds a Netherlandish triptych. Its churchyard serves as a viewpoint, and it marks one end of the Estrada do Morgado Esmeraldo. One of Fr. José Cupertino's sermons was preached there.
- Eira do Serrado
Câmara de Lobos. Place recommended for a viewpoint in 1850.
A viewpoint at 1026 m at the top of the Passo da Chave ascent, with a striking view over the village of Curral das Freiras and its mountains. It was recommended for a viewpoint in 1850 and was visited by King Leopold of Belgium.
- Funchal
City with several viewpoints listed in the entry.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Largo António Nobre
Funchal. Square used as a viewpoint in Funchal.
Largo António Nobre is a square in Funchal named after the poet António Nobre, whose bust was unveiled there in 1941. It is also used as a viewpoint.
- Largo das Cruzes
Funchal. Square used as a viewpoint in Funchal.
Square used as a viewpoint in Funchal.
- Levada do Juncal
Santana. Levada near a Public Works viewpoint.
The Levada do Juncal is an old state levada, 15.5 km long with a flow of 92 litres per second, irrigating Santo da Serra, Santa Cruz and Água de Pena. It shares an aqueduct to Lamaceiros and runs with the Levada da Serra as far as Lombo da Raiz, and it passes a Public Works viewpoint over the Vale da Metade reached by a walk from Ribeiro Frio.
- Macelas
Machico. Site of a viewpoint built shortly after 1850 and still standing.
Site of a viewpoint built shortly after 1850 and still standing.
People
People mentioned · 02- José Silvestre Ribeiro1807–1891
Civil governor of Madeira who in 1850 recommended building viewpoints at Macelas, Portela and Eira do Serrado.
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Director of Public Works in Madeira to whom the 1850 recommendation to build the Macelas viewpoint was addressed.