Santana Traditional Houses

Casas Típicas de Santana

The A-frame thatched houses of Santana on the north coast, with white walls and red and blue doors and windows, are Madeira's most iconic traditional homes.

Santana lies on Madeira's north coast, where the humid, rainy climate keeps the woods lush. Here you'll find Madeira's traditional triangular thatched houses (Casas de Colmo): straw roofs reach down to the ground, walls are whitewashed, and doors and windows are painted red and blue. They were once farmers' homes. Today, several have been restored beside the town hall for visitors, including a handicraft shop and a tourist information office, and entry is free for photos. Nearby, you can visit Madeira Theme Park (Parque Temático da Madeira, good for families). To the south, Queimadas Forest Park is the starting point of the famous PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde, a round trip of about 13 km through the UNESCO World Heritage laurisilva forest, ending at a 100-metre waterfall. Achada do Teixeira is the shortest trailhead to Pico do Ruivo. Getting there: about 40 to 50 minutes by car from Funchal via the expressway, or about 1.5 hours by bus on routes 56 or 103. Note: The thatched house area is very small and can be seen in 15 to 20 minutes, so pair it with the levada walk or a north coast drive. The north coast weather changes often, so bring rain gear.

Santana Traditional Houses

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby