Ponta do Sol Pier

Category: Civil Architecture > Quay

District: Madeira > Ponta do Sol > Ponta do Sol > Volta da Forca

Location:

Situated on the waterfront of Ponta do Sol, the pier connects to the rocky coastal slope in the area known as Volta da Forca. Its position offers a perspective over the coastline and the nearby urban area.

It is a landmark in the village's landscape, marking the transition between solid ground and the Atlantic Ocean.

Origin and History:

The construction of Ponta do Sol Pier was an initiative of the local Municipal Council, taking place between 1848 and 1850. The project was authored by Captain Engineer Tibério Augusto Blanc, and the official inauguration occurred on September 9, 1849.

For a period, the pier was known as "Duke of Luxembourg Pier", a recognition of the donation made by Duke Maximilian of Leuchtenberg for its construction. The pier played a central role in the movement of goods and passengers in the region, being considered for some time the safest and widest on Madeira's southwest coast.

Architectural Elements:

From an architectural point of view, Ponta do Sol Pier stands out for its wide and distinctive semicircular arch. This stone structure connects the main pier platform to the rocky coastal escarpment.

Characteristic stones of the region were used in its construction, including basalt, ashlar, and cobblestone. Near the pier's entrance, there are remnants of an old rock-hewn prison and the house that served as a guardhouse.

Environment and Perspective:

Currently, the pier offers an observation point over the Atlantic Ocean and the coastline. It is a place that invites a brief pause to appreciate the maritime landscape and how the structure integrates into the surrounding rocky environment.

It also represents the historical connection of the locality to the sea and to the activities that once depended on this port.

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