Porto Santo

Porto Santo is located 50 Kms. north-east of Funchal.

The island is amazingly different from the island of Madeira. There is almost no vegetation at all. The southern coast is bordered by a 9 Kms. long beach with golden, soft sand.

The temperature in the sea is 18-23 ºC (64,4-73,4 ºF) throughout the year.

Tourists seek to Porto Santo to enjoy a relaxing holiday of tranquility. The isolation permits the island to keep some of the old traditions of the first settlers.

Porto Santo is only 14 Kms long and 5 Kms wide. It's a lovely island, and while you're in the neighbourhood, a paradise not to be missed.

Porto Santo Island is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean. Administratively, it is part of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The main urban area in which is one of the five Portuguese municipalities that have only one parish is the city of Porto Santo, also known as Vila Baleira. The population in 2001 was 4,474. The density was 106.1/km². The island also has an airport which serves flights to Funchal, which is only a 15-minute flight away. It is the northernmost and the easternmost island of the Madeira Archipelago. The municipality has no land boundaries and is encircled by the Atlantic Ocean. The nearest place is Machico in the island of Madeira to the southwest which serves as its port to Funchal. The length of the island is about 9 km. The main industry is tourism.

The 9km long sandy beach is the main attraction for tourists.

Christopher Columbus married and lived there for some time. His house can still be visited today, as a museum.

The house became a museum and presents a permanent exhibition about Columbus' life and family ties with Porto Santo, as well as temporary art exhibitions.

The island has a golf course that is promoted by Spanish golfing champion Severiano Ballesteros. Porto Santo Golf Course is the largest course in the whole of the Madeira Archipelago and is able to accommodate 500 players at once. There are two 18-hole golf courses and one nine-hole course. Porto Santo golf complex, includes eight tennis courts and an equestrian center, circles Pico Ana Ferreira.

Porto Santo has several schools, a lyceum, a gymnasium, several churches, a square (praça), a Congress Centre, a museum, shopping centres, bars, and restaurants.