Santo António
There is an undeniable association between the parish of Santo António and Cristiano Ronaldo. It was in this parish of just over 20 km2 area that one of the best football players of all time was born on February 5, 1985, in the humble neighborhood of Quinta do Falcão, near the regional television station, RTP-Madeira.
Ronaldo made his football debut in the parish’s club, Andorinha, where his father was responsible for the equipment. Now his name figures in the history of the 'beautiful game', and that makes Santo António a must see for many lovers of soccer. The parish is the most populous of Funchal and is home of the well-known viewpoint of Pico dos Barcelos, located about 355 meters above the sea level, offering panoramic views of the bay and the city of Funchal.
Every June 12 Santo António hosts the 'Popular Marches', a festival that brings together groups of people from different parts of the island to pay homage to Santo António, the matchmaker saint. The local church is one of the most important architectural landmarks of the parish. It took about 6 years to build. The interior and especially the altars are particularly noteworthy.