São Vicente (landing place and stream)
Original title: São Vicente (Porto e Ribeira de)
Describes the small, difficult landing place at São Vicente on Madeira's north coast and the São Vicente stream, with its chapel on a basalt rock at the mouth and a nearby lava cave.
On the coast of the town (vila) of this name there is a small landing place where disembarking is difficult. The landing place at Fajã da Areia (see that entry), about two kilometres from the landing place of São Vicente (‘St Vincent’), is preferable.
The waters of this stream rise in the mountains of the Encumeada de São Vicente (‘São Vicente ridge pass’) and, crossing the greater part of the parish (freguesia), flow out into the Ocean. At its mouth, in the middle of the stream bed, stands a solitary block of basalt bearing a small chapel dedicated to the martyr St Vincent, built by the people in the year 1692. Near the mouth of this stream there is a cave or chasm of some length, formed by an extinct lava channel.
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São Vicente
The Porto e Ribeira de São Vicente comprises the small, difficult landing place at São Vicente on Madeira's north coast and the São Vicente stream. At the stream's mouth stands a chapel on a basalt rock, and there is a lava cave nearby.
- Chapel of St Vincent
São Vicente. Small chapel built by the people in 1692 on a basalt rock at the stream mouth.
A small chapel dedicated to the martyr São Vicente, built by the local people in 1692 on a solitary basalt rock at the mouth of the stream that crosses the town of São Vicente. It is widely known from engravings and postcards, and the site is recommended for its coastal scenery.
- Encumeada
São Vicente. Mountain area where the São Vicente stream rises.
Mountain pass at 1045 m on the southern boundary of São Vicente parish, where the São Vicente stream rises. It is crossed by roads 25 and 26 and the new north road, and was to be the eastern end of the projected Paul da Serra road. A meteorological station was set up there in June 1941.
- Fajã da Areia
São Vicente. Landing place about two kilometres away, preferred to that of São Vicente.
Well-known coastal fajã and principal locality of São Vicente parish, with a beach and a small port. The port, about two kilometres from São Vicente, was preferred to the town's own landing place, though it is also listed as a poor port. An unsuccessful attempt at salt-making was made there.
- Grutas de São Vicente
São Vicente. Cave formed by an extinct lava channel near the stream mouth.
Cave formed by an extinct lava channel near the stream mouth.
- Porto de São Vicente
São Vicente. Small landing place at the town of São Vicente, described as hard to land at.
Small landing place at the town of São Vicente, described as hard to land at.
- Ribeira de São Vicente
São Vicente. Stream that crosses most of the parish to the sea.
Ribeira de São Vicente is a major stream rising on the plateau and crossing most of São Vicente parish to the sea. The São Vicente chapel stands on a basalt rock at its mouth, and near the mouth lies the most perfect lava tube in Madeira, about 80 m long.