Machico, Madeira institutions (municipal chamber, customshouse and church), and the left margin, that included nucleus of Banda d'Além, the Misericórdia (social centre) and Chapel of Christ, now known as the Chapel of "Nosso Senhor dos Milagres" ("Our Lord of Miracles"). In 1803, a landslide was responsible for the destruction of various homes, destroying hedges and walls, the main bridge along the ravine and the Chapel of "Nosso Senhor dos Milagres". Machico also became a front-line during the "Revolta da Madeira" ("Madeira Revolt") in April 1931. Machico is located 17 km northeast of Funchal, northwest of the uninhabitable Savage Islands, 20 km southeast
History of Madeira History of Madeira The history of Madeira begins with the discovery of the islands by Portugal in 1419. Pliny mentions certain Purple Islands, the position of which with reference to the Fortunate Islands or Canaries might seem to indicate Madeira islands. Plutarch ("Sertorius", 75 AD) referring to the military commander Quintus Sertorius (d. 72 BC), relates that after his return to Cádiz, "he met seamen recently arrived from Atlantic islands, two in number, divided from one another only by a narrow channel and distant from the coast of Africa 10,000 furlongs. They are called Isles of the Blest." The estimated