Câmara de Lobos
Câmara de Lobos, located on the south coast of the island of Madeira, was the first place inhabited by João Gonçalves Zarco, the navigator who discovered this "pearl of the Atlantic". Between 1420 and 1424, Zarco remained in this area, establishing here the first settlement of Madeira, which was elevated to a parish in 1430, giving it a significant historical legacy.
The name of this municipality originates from the abundance of fur seals that, at the time of discovery, inhabited the cove, which still maintains its original configuration today. The region preserves several historical monuments that recall this era, such as the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, founded in the fifteenth century, the old convent of São Bernardino, dating from 1425, and the church of São Sebastião, built in the sixteenth century.
Currently, the municipality of Câmara de Lobos covers an area of 51.82 km² and is home to about 35 thousand inhabitants. In addition to the parish of Câmara de Lobos, the municipality is composed of four other parishes: Curral das Freiras, Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, Jardim da Serra and Quinta Grande.
The landscape of this city is marked by the presence of traditional fishing boats, known as "Xavelhas". Come and discover Câmara de Lobos!
