Porto Da Cruz is an attractive small fishing village on the north east coast of Madeira. Houses are surrounded by terraced gardens, growing a variety of fruit and vegetables. It is one of the main areas for growing sugar cane.
Although there is an attractive walk along the front and an”open air sea water bathing pool”:https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Porto_da_Cruz#/media/File:Porto_da_Cruz_(_Portugal_)2.jpg the tourist hotels have yet to arrive. It is overlooked by the massive sheer face of the 2000’ Eagle Rock to the north.
There is the remains of an C18th fort on a small headland.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe in the centre of the settlement is a modern church built from slabs of basalt
The main attraction and possibly the only reason tourists visit is “Engenhos do Norte”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/madeira/eastern/porta_cruz/index.html (reviewed separately) one of Madeira’s last operating rum distilleries. At the bottom of the headland, this is recognisable by its tall red chimney. It operated from March until May and is still using the original steam powered machines. It was worth visiting Madeira just to visit here!
All my pictures of Madeira are “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/madeira/index.html
