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Camacha

🏘️ Santa Cruz · Camacha · Casais de Além

At about 700 m in the municipality of Santa Cruz, a few kilometres from Funchal, the rural parish that keeps the island's traditions alive. Wicker founded a unique industry here, which in its heyday exported hand-woven pieces to several continents; folklore is the other emblem, with the red vertically striped skirts of the "viloas", now a regional symbol. The Levada da Serra do Faial crosses the whole parish, for walks among the local fauna and flora. Montado do Pereiro and Poiso lie on its heights.

  • Wickerwork
  • Folklore, viloas' skirts
  • ~700 m altitude
  • Levada da Serra do Faial
GPS
32.68036, -16.85183
🧭 Getting there
The place stands in the locality of Casais de Além, parish of Camacha (Santa Cruz).
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Good to know about Camacha2

  • 19th century — The convalescents — European aristocracy comes for the climate; tourism is born

    Drawn by the island's therapeutic virtues, part of Europe's aristocracy took up temporary residence from the 19th century. Embroidery was exported to the United Kingdom after 1850, the wicker industry began at Camacha in 1850, Quinta do Bom Sucesso (the future Botanical Garden) was founded in 1881 by the Reids, the Baltazar Dias theatre opened in 1888 and the power station in 1897; the Monte sledges, created as public transport, became an attraction.

  • 1850 — Camacha wicker — An industry born in a single parish

    The wicker industry, born in Camacha, began in 1850. After a complex treatment the material allows baskets, furniture and the famous Monte basket sledges to be made. Production remains overwhelmingly family-based.

Services within 1.5 km7

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