{"id":1685,"date":"2026-07-03T09:23:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/behomie.com\/blog\/?p=1685"},"modified":"2026-06-17T09:46:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T09:46:13","slug":"santana-madeira","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/behomie.com\/blog\/santana-madeira\/","title":{"rendered":"Santana Madeira: The North Coast’s Most Distinctive Village"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Most people arrive in Madeira through Funchal, spend a few days in the south, and leave having seen only half the island. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santana Madeira<\/strong> sits on the north coast and is completely different from the rest of the island. It’s cooler, greener, quieter, and home to one of the most instantly recognisable architectural traditions in Portugal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide covers the history, the iconic thatched houses, the weather in Santana Madeira<\/strong>, the outdoor network around the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and tips for planning your visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santana Madeira<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Santana Madeira<\/strong> is a municipality on the northern coast of Madeira. It covers 95.56 km\u00b2 across six parishes: Santana<\/strong> itself, Arco de S\u00e3o Jorge<\/strong>, Faial<\/strong>, Ilha<\/strong>, S\u00e3o Jorge<\/strong>, and S\u00e3o Roque do Faial<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The municipality takes its name from Santa Ana, the patron saint of the city and mother of the Virgin Mary. It began as a settlement in the mid-16th century and officially became a city on 6 July 2000. For centuries, Santana was difficult to reach by both land and sea, which turned out to be culturally significant as the village preserved its traditions, its architecture, and its way of life without much outside interference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip<\/strong>: If you’re basing yourself elsewhere on the island, our Ribeira Brava guide<\/a> gives a useful comparison with the south coast’s character. Our overview of the best beaches in Madeira<\/a> puts the north coast’s vibes into perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"visit<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Exploring the history of Santana<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Settlement in the Santana area dates to the mid-16th century, when Portuguese colonists from the mainland began farming the north coast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Builders constructed the village church, Igreja Matriz de Santana<\/strong>, between 1698 and 1745, and it still stands in the town centre today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional thatched houses of Santana<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The palheiros<\/em>, or casas de Santana<\/em>, are the reason most people put Santana on their Madeira itinerary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what makes them architecturally distinct:<\/p>\n\n\n\n