Statue of Tristão Vaz Teixeira
About the Statue of Tristão Vaz Teixeira
The history of the discovery of Madeira is cherished by the entire population of the archipelago for the bravery and daring it required. The statue of Tristão Vaz Teixeira is therefore a monument of high symbolic value to all Madeirans.
The navigator Tristão Vaz Teixeira was, together with João Gonçalves Zarco and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, responsible for landing on the island of Madeira in 1419. More than just discoverers, they played an active role in the colonisation process that followed. They therefore represented an essential role in developing the social, economic and cultural identity of this pearl of the Atlantic.
The statue of Tristão Vaz Teixeira is located in Largo da Igreja Matriz, in Machico. The choice of this municipality to host this monument is significant: this discoverer was appointed the first Captain-Donee of Machico. He was granted the administration of this territory in 1440 by a charter from Infante D. Henrique.
The central role that this figure played in the archipelago's History explains the admiration that Madeirans still have for him today. As such, the statue of Tristão Vaz Teixeira was inaugurated in 1972, occupying a prominent place in the city centre. It was created in bronze by Portuguese sculptor Anjos Teixeira.
The statue of Tristão Vaz Teixeira, located in the city of Machico, pays tribute to this discoverer of Madeira. It was sculpted in bronze by Anjos Teixeira and inaugurated in 1972.