Água de Pena

Situated on the south coast of Madeira, about 20 km from Funchal, Água de Pena is a quiet, small town, highly dedicated to the agricultural practice.

A visit to this housing cluster includes passing the Francisco Alvares Nobrega viewpoint, which has a stunning view over the valley and the bay of Machico, Caniçal and Ponta de São Lourenço.

In times past, when there was still no basic sanitation, the locals carried water for their domestic chores, from a standpipe which is still there today, well preserved and worth seeing.

In this locality, you will also find the Água de Pena Sports Park, a large recreational and sports area built underneath the airport runway which is open to the public. Without a doubt it’s a great place to relax, play sport, have a coffee, take a dip and even enjoy the fantastic piece of engineering, which supports the runway.

The parish of Água de Pena was created in 1560. In 1745, this territory was adorned with the St. Beatrice Church, located in Sitio da Igreja, where the Chapel of Santa Beatriz previously was. As well as these temples, the parish has the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on the site of Cardais, founded in 1907, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, built in 1924, on the Queimada site.