Machico: The Cradle of Madeira and the Legend That Shaped Its Name
As Madeira commemorates 600 years since its discovery, the city of Machico stands out not only as a tourist destination of singular beauty but as the cornerstone of Madeiran history. It was here, in its sheltered bay, that the epic story of the Portuguese Discoveries began to take shape, a legacy immortalized by the Monument to Tristão Vaz Teixeira.
The Arrival of the Portuguese Navigators
In the year 1419, the Portuguese navigators Tristão Vaz Teixeira and João Gonçalves Zarco, under the service of Prince Henry the Navigator, landed on the island's east coast. It is believed that the site of this foundational landing was precisely the cove where the city of Machico now stands. This event marked the official beginning of the settlement of the Madeira archipelago, a crucial milestone in Portuguese maritime expansion.
João
Gonçalves Zarco
Tristão Vaz
Teixeira
To
celebrate this central figure in the founding of the island's first settlement,
the Monument to Tristão Vaz Teixeira was erected in his honor. Located in the
heart of Machico, its imposing presence is more than a simple statue; it is a
symbol of courage, discovery, and origin. The monument pays tribute not only to
the man but also to the feat: the arrival of the first explorers and the
foundation of what would become the seat of Madeira's first Captaincy, granted
to Tristão Vaz himself in 1440.
The Legend of Robert Machim: Fact or Fiction?
However, Machico's history is shrouded in a veil of romance and mystery that predates the official Portuguese arrival. The Legend of Machim (or Robert Machin) tells the story of a young English couple of lovers in the 14th century. Robert Machim and Anne of Arfet, fleeing an arranged marriage, were supposedly caught by a violent storm in the English Channel. Drifting in the Atlantic, they finally spotted a "large green stain" – the island of Madeira.
They landed exhausted in the bay of Machico, where Anne, weakened, eventually died. Machim, in a fit of grief, is said to have built a wooden cross over her grave before succumbing to sorrow himself. The survivors of the shipwreck allegedly carved the story into the cross and, eventually rescued by a ship, spread the narrative.
The legend claims that when Zarco and Teixeira arrived in 1419, they found the remnants of this tragic story—including the cross—and, in homage to Machim, named the location „Machico”. This romantic narrative was widely disseminated in the 17th and 19th centuries, often to serve geopolitical interests, namely English, over the island. Despite being a fascinating and deeply ingrained local tradition, it lacks solid historical foundation, with the arrival of Zarco and Teixeira being the documented and widely recognized event of official discovery.
Machico Today: The Legacy of a Rich History
Whatever the origin of its name, Machico is today a vibrant municipality with around 20,000 inhabitants, comprised of five unique parishes: Machico, Caniçal, Porto da Cruz, Santo António da Serra, and Água de Pena. Each offers its own charm, from magnificent landscapes and serene „levadas” (irrigation channels) to a strong connection to the sea.
The Monument to Tristão Vaz Teixeira
The
monument by sculptor Luís Paixão, sculpted from white concrete, takes the form
of a 15th-century sailor erecting the Portuguese padrão (stone pillar) left by
the Portuguese throughout the overseas territories that were occupied during
the process of the Discoveries. The bronze maquette (scale model) is already on
display in the atrium of the Town Hall.
The
Monument to Tristão Vaz Teixeira remains a silent yet eloquent testament to
this glorious past. It does not celebrate a legend, but the tangible courage of
the men who, over six centuries ago, set foot on that land and began a new
chapter in Portugal's history. It is an essential stop for any visitor wishing
to truly understand the soul and origin of the Island of Madeira.
Tristão Vaz
Teixeira and João Gonçalves Zarco – The 600th Anniversary of the Discovery
of the Island of Porto Santo (Madeira)
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