Live cam with view from Porto Moniz – Aqua Natura Hotels
Porto Moniz, situated in the northwestern region of Madeira Island, is a distinct municipality. It lies to the west of Santana and Machico, as well as to the northwest of Funchal. As per the 2011 census, the population was recorded at 2,711, residing within an area spanning 82.93 km².
The precise period of Porto Moniz’s initial settlement remains uncertain, though it is likely to have transpired during the early stages of the last quarter of the 15th century.
Among the early settlers, Francisco Moniz O Velho stands notable, possessing uncultivated lands in this region and playing a pivotal role in establishing a farm and chapel. Francisco Moniz, an aristocrat from Algarve, was wedded to Filipa da Câmara, daughter of Garcia Rodrigues da Câmara. He was one of the offspring of João Gonçalves Zarco, credited as the discoverer of Porto Santo (1418) alongside Tristão Vaz Teixeira, followed by the discovery of Madeira Island with Bartolomeu Perestrelo (1419).