It was on Machico beach that, in 1419, Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira set ashore when they discovered the island of Madeira. The process of populating this area left marks that are currently regarded as an extremely symbolic and valuable heritage. You can discover most of this legacy by visiting the Historical Centre of Machico.
This journey back in time takes visitors to the very site where the region's first inhabitants settled: the area between the downstream section of the Machico valley, the beach, the bank of Ribeira de Machico, Banda d'Além and the area of the São Roque path.
The architectural ensemble of the Historical Centre of Machico stands out for its great diversity. In terms of religious heritage, we find the Mother Church of Machico, dating from the late 15th century, with Gothic and Manueline features, the Nosso Senhor dos Milagres Chapel or the São Roque Chapel.
In addition, in the Historical Centre of Machico we should highlight the Fort of Nossa Senhora do Amparo, built in the 18th century, Solar do Ribeirinho, which houses the Machico Museum, the City Hall, with neoclassical references, or the Aqueduct, built to bring water to the city's old mill.
The Historical Centre of Machico corresponds to the area populated following the discovery of the island of Madeira in 1419. Its architectural heritage is an extremely interesting legacy.
