Pontinha
Machico
western end of Funchal bay, municipality of Funchal, Madeira
The Pontinha is the coastal projection at the western end of Funchal bay, originally called Ilhéus after two rocky islets later joined to the shore by walls and by the breakwater completed in 1889. The Elucidário traces its forts, chapel, lighthouse, passenger quay and road, storm damage in 1757 and 1892, and the maritime disinfection station there from 1901. It was the landing place of notable visitors such as the nuncio and the Archduchess Leopoldina. A locality of the same name is also listed among the main localities of Machico parish.
1Mentioned in
- Machico (parish) — One of the parish's main localities.
- Geology — Cove being silted by the Ribeira de São João.
- Unknown Soldier — Quay where the urn was landed.
- Shipwrecks — Harbour works damaged by storms in 1757 and 1892; its old fort isolated survivors in 1858.
- Historical dates — Breakwater rebuilt 1886–1897.
- Tokens — A token of unknown origin was found during works on the Blandy quay here.
- Nuncio — Landing place of the nuncio.
- Popular riots — Where Trindade e Vasconcelos was seized in 1870.
- Asylums — Cited as another long-debated public work.
- Leopoldina (Archduchess) — Where a makeshift wooden landing stage was built for Leopoldina to come ashore.
- Maritime Disinfection Station — Site of the maritime disinfection station since 1901.
- Cais da Pontinha — Site of the passenger quay and earlier stairs.
- Vieira (Councillor Manuel José) — Site of the artificial harbour whose construction Vieira promoted.
- Amélia (Empress Dona) — Landing place where the royal visitors disembarked.
- Quincentenary of the discovery of Madeira — Bay where a serenade in decorated boats was planned.
- Pontinha (locality, road, islets and mole) — Coastal projection bounding Funchal's harbour, subject of the entry.
- Pontinha mole (breakwater) — Islet joined to land by a wall and site of the breakwater.
- Henriques (Dr Luiz) — Coast where the Norwegian ship was wrecked.
- Autonomous Board for the Funchal Harbour Works — Site of the harbour breakwater whose repair was a main task of the board.
- Zita (former Empress) — Landing place of the imperial couple in 1921.
- Surprise — Pier to which the procession escorted the French remains.
- Flash floods — Breakwater overtopped in 1842; a worker died there in 1920.
- Princesa Dona Maria Amélia (street) — The street leads to the vicinity of the Pontinha.
- Adelaide of England (Queen) — Landing place where the queen disembarked and was greeted by local authorities.
2Chronology
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A great storm endangered ships and damaged the Funchal harbour works.
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The contract for the Pontinha breakwater at Funchal was awarded to French engineers on 30 June 1885, and construction continued until 1889.
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A small maritime disinfection station was established at the Pontinha.
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Ex-Emperor Charles and ex-Empress Zita of Austria arrived in exile at Funchal aboard HMS Cardiff.