São Vicente Caves

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Madeira > São Vicente > Feiteiras de Baixo

Location

The São Vicente Caves are located in the area of Feiteiras de Baixo, in the municipality of São Vicente, which stretches along a valley on the north coast of Madeira Island. This region is marked by an exuberant landscape, with the green of the mountains contrasting with the blue of the Atlantic Ocean. Its position offers close contact with nature and the island's characteristic geography.

Volcanic Genesis

This site offers a rare opportunity to explore Madeira's internal structure. The caves were formed approximately 890,000 years ago, following a volcanic eruption that originated a lava flow from Paul da Serra and extended to the sea. The superficial layer of lava solidified rapidly as it cooled, while the interior flow, carrying gases, continued to move, thus creating a series of tunnels or tubes, which are now the caves.

The Underground Journey

Visitors can discover the uniqueness of these formations through a journey of approximately 700 meters. Along the way, it is possible to observe the different textures of the rocks and the marks left by the passage of lava, which convey a sense of the power of geological processes. This experience allows for an immersion in the island's millennia-old history, revealing how its landscape was shaped since its volcanic birth.

Discovery and Public Opening

The existence of these caves was first noted in 1885, through information from the local population shared with the English naturalist James Yate Johnson. Their opening to the public occurred on October 1, 1996, marking one of the first examples of accessible volcanic caves in Portugal, allowing everyone a fascinating journey into the Earth's interior.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt