São Vicente, Madeira

São Vicente is a municipality along the north-west coast of the island of Madeira.

History
The first human visitors to São Vicente appeared in the middle of the 15th century, colonizing the area much later than the settlers in the southern part of the island, owing to its fertility. This area of the island, due to its steep escarpments and deep river-valleys made early settlement difficult. The first settlers appeared in the areas of São Vicente and Ponta Delgada, respectively.

The progressive growth of its population led to dis-annexation of São Vicente from the Captaincy of Machico, and elevation to municipal seat by royal charter on 23 August 1774. At that time the parishes of Porto Moniz, Seixal, Arco de São Jorge and São Jorge where under the administration of the municipal authority.

In 1835, the restructuring of municipal government under the Liberal reformer Mouzinho da Silveira lead to the creation of two new municipalities (Santana and Porto Moniz) along the northern coast of Madeira, which reduced the area of São Vicente. But, by 1867, under decree it reverted to its former dimensions. In 1898, with the re-establishment of the former municipalities São Vicente began to function within the current territorial area.

Legend
A legend exists that the toponymic name of the region, developed from an incident where Saint Vincent of Saragossa appeared in a rocky cove near the mouth of the river. Consequently, the settlers constructed a small chapel to the saint, owing to the great devotion to his personage.

Monuments
Nossa Senhora de Fátima Chapel is situated on the top of a hill, this small temple, whose façades are painted in white, contrasts with its green surroundings. Its unusual typology catches the eye: it is a quadrangular, tower-shaped building with a marked verticality, finished in a spire. When arriving to Nossa Senhora de Fátima Chapel, which can be accessed through a staircase, visitors are confronted with a striking landscape. On one side, the majesty of the mountains covered by a dense forest mantle, on the other, the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is completed with the typical houses that sprinkle the slopes.

This monument, considered an important part of the religious and cultural heritage of this region, was recently subject to a requalification process, where mainly elements linked to religious cult and its iconic bell mechanism were restored.

Geography
São Vicente is located west of Santana and Machico and east of Porto Moniz, linked by roadway to Santana and the western part of the island. It is also home to the São Vicente Caves.

The municipality includes three civil parishes, that handle local government administration:
 * Boaventura – physically the largest parish, but with the smallest population density, it is located in the northeast coast of the municipality, and ultimately the last to be settled;
 * Ponta Delgada – a small parish, nestled between two promontories;
 * São Vicente – the largest parish in population and density, home to the municipal seat; it had a population of 3,139 (in 2011) in an area of 44.14 km2

Climate
São Vicente has a subtropical Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) It has warm summers, with little to no precipitation, and mild, wet winters. The region, much like the rest of the Madeira is shaped by the Gulf Stream, and consequently has a narrow temperature variation. The climate can be divided into three main seasons: a warm and dry season spanning from June to August with average daily high temperatures ranging from 23 to 26 C, a warm and wet season from mid-September to November with average daily high temperatures ranging from 25 to 23 C and a cooler wet season from December to April with average daily high temperatures ranging from 18 to 21 C. Humidity levels remain constantly high at about 75%. Sea temperatures range from a low of 18 °C in February–March to 24 °C in August–October.

The north coast of Madeira is generally cooler by 1.5 °C The climate data for average high, average low temperature, and humidity was collected and calculated from multiple IPMA records from 2012 to 2021. The weather station is 1.5 km away from the ocean at 97m. Temperatures vary throughout the valley, average temperature drop per 100 m of altitude: 0.65 degrees.

Notable citizens

 * Gregório Joaquim Diniz (c. 1863 – 1931) – doctor, Sub-Delegate for Health, and involved in the first hydro-electrical production facility on the island of Madeira, at Pé de Corrida.