Recounting The Early SettleMent Of Porto Moniz In Madeira

Copyright (c) 2011 Robert James

Porto Moniz is perhaps Madeira's most popular day-trip destinations - and rightly so. This historic village is home to the world famous sea-water volcanic rock public swimming pools. Here, holiday-makers can float in the tranquility of the pool's confines with the waves smashing against the rugged rocks surrounding them. This feature is exploited by Madeira's visitors and locals alike.

However, Porto Moniz is not just a one attraction destination. The Village boasts the Madeira Aquarium, which occupies pride of place in a refurbished old fortification, and the ever impressive Living Science Centre, a top permanent exhibition of interactive science-based installations.

Because of its position, Porto Moniz is often overlooked by those holidaying on Madeira. It is for this reason that there is a constant requirement for a West of Madeira Island Tour, visiting Porto Moniz and other nearby places of interest is available for online booking.

Porto Moniz may be popular today, but the community and how its name was derived has an interesting history...

The heritage associated with Porto Moniz is practically as old as that pertaining to Madeira's chief city, Funchal. This small yet successful community, stationed at the extreme north west tip of Madeira archipelago, was founded at some point in the latter part of the 1400s. At first it bore the title of Porto do Tristao and it is mentioned by this name in a variety of records dating coming from the 1530s. At the period in history, the village has to surely had been a far-flung outpost with a handful of people.

It was not long before Porto do Tristao was rechristened Porto Moniz. This renaming occurred at a date widely believed to be close to 1570.

Historical records do not record the precise circumstances but, it is a common supposition that the name change was at the behest of Francisco Moniz who was one of the earliest and most important landowners in the newly established coastal settlement and surrounding area. There can be little doubt of the elevated station in life of Francisco Moniz, you need to look no further than the fact that he became the husband of Filipa da Camara, a granddaughter of Joao Goncalves Zarco, the discoverer of Madeira.

But nevertheless, the Francisco Moniz link is in fact doubted by others since the title Moniz appeared to be conspicuous in the recently inhabited archipelago. Joao Goncalves Zarco's 2nd spouse carried the name of Isabella Moniz. Further more, the original governor of the neighboring island of Porto Santo had been one Bartolomeu Perestrello. Bartolomeu's female child, Filipa Moniz Perestrello, ended up being well known for having married Christopher Columbus. As had been the custom, Filipa's middle name, Moniz, was obtained from her mother's maiden title. So, it would appear that there had been a variety of noteworthy Moniz family members in and around Madeira during the late 1500s century that may rest claim to the honor of being responsible for the naming of the recently founded Parish of Porto Moniz.

What is in little doubt though is that Francisco Moniz subsidized the constructing of the Nossa Senhora da Conceicao chapel which occupied a spot some 300 meters inland from the waterfront at Porto Moniz. This church served the small local population eking out a living from the land and the sea.

Be sure enjoy your excursion to Porto Moniz - and do not forget you are experiencing living history!


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Madeira Sunrise Tours offers full day tourist excursions to the most scenic locations and tourist attractions on Madeira Island. Their Madeira tours are conducted by fully qualified guides and are selected to give a highly personalised experience to each and every one of our customers by limiting tour numbers to just twelve. For a complete tourist information see the useful Madeira guide.