Between natural reserves and centuries-old traditions
Anyone arriving by plane to the island. could hardly find a more representative scenery of Madeira's spectacular landscape. The Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport is located in Santa Cruz, welcoming travellers with a landscape dominated by the vivid shades of the ocean on one side and mountains on the other.
This municipality on Madeira's east coast is located 18 kilometres from Funchal, the archipelago's capital. Its History dates back to the 15th century, when the island was discovered. At the time, the discoverer João Gonçalves Zarco found old cedars among the dense trees that covered this area, with which he commissioned a cross to be made, thus christening this site.
It is one of the oldest settlements in the entire archipelago. Currently, the municipality of Santa Cruz has around 43,000 inhabitants, spread across five parishes: Camacha, Caniço, Gaula, Santo António da Serra and Santa Cruz.
If you are looking for places to visit in Santa Cruz, it should be noted that there is a number of places where Nature reveals itself in an especially beautiful way. Among beaches, viewpoints, gardens and a natural reserve, there's plenty to discover. In addition, the various towns in the municipality offer a visit filled with culture and tradition.
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Santa Cruz is the gateway for those arriving on the island by plane. It is a perfect municipality for nature, beach, culture, tradition and even golf lovers.
