Santa Cruz Cross

About the Santa Cruz Cross

The History of Madeira is rich in moments of great symbolism. The Santa Cruz Cross represents, precisely, one of those iconic events that have crystallised in the historic memory of this Atlantic archipelago.

Let's go back, then, to the 15th century, when Madeira was discovered. At that time, navigator João Gonçalves Zarco found old cedar trees in the middle of the dense tree cover that blanketed this entire coastal region, with which he had a cross made. This town on the east coast of Madeira Island was, following this episode, named 'Santa Cruz'.

Located in a central square of this town, the Santa Cruz Cross has a direct relationship to this baptismal moment. It is therefore closely linked to the toponymy of the municipality, symbolising the wooden cross that the discoverer had erected when he landed in the area's bay.

The Santa Cruz Cross is composed of a white marble column supported by a base with three steps. It also has a capital that supports a crucifix dating from the 19th century. It is also important to note that, for all its symbolic significance, this cross is represented on the municipality's coat of arms.