Gaula (Madeira) Gaula (Madeira) Gaula is a Portuguese civil parish, in the municipality of Santa Cruz in the island of Madeira. The population in 2011 was 4,028, in an area of 6.95 km². It is located northeast of the island capital of Funchal. Gaula's history is tied to universe of local history, popular culture, literature, traditions and customs; it was originally referred to as the "terra do amadis de Gaula" ("Land of Amadis de Gaula"), "terra de adelos” ("Land of the wandering salesmen"), "terras de doutores" ("Lands of the Doctors"), "terra de padres" ("Land of Priests"), "terra das amoras" ("Land of the
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