History of Camara the lobos Madeira island

Câmara de Lobos is a picturesque village located within a city with the same name.
The name of this land of fishermen, whose main specialty of fishing for black scabbard fish, was so named due to the fact that, when the island was discovered, which took place in 1419, a large amount of sea lions (wolves seals) were seen in that creek, which still maintains the same configuration. Nowadays, these animals only come occasionally to the south coast of the island. However, a colony is still inhabits the Desert Islands (Desert Island).
Câmara de Lobos was the first place Zarco, the navigator who discovered the island, lived between 1420 and 1424.
Because of this, became the first settlement established in Madeira by Zarco himself. Câmara de Lobos became a parish in 1430.
The fist temple built in the island Was Our Lady of Pebble chapel, also called Capela dos Pescadores (Fishermen's Chapel).
On October 4, 1835, the village Câmara de Lobos city became head of the council, which also included the parishes of Câmara de Lobos, Nuns Valley and Belfry.
In 1486, the county Board of Lobos became part of the parish of Jardim da Serra. lost, however, the town of Bell, which became the municipality of Ribeira Brava.
On August 3, 1996, Câmara de Lobos was elevated to city level.
The parish is bounded on the east by Riverside Socorridos the north by the parish Strait and west of Fifth Major. The sea is to the south.
Câmara de Lobos, located near the capital of the island owes its fame to the fishermen, who, with their picturesque and distinctive boats - the xavelhas - color of the bay that opens to the sea. The original picture was immortalized by the picture that the former English Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, painted when he visited the island on January 8, 1950.
There is a gazebo, where the statesman painted the picture, presenting a very curious view of the bay, and the beaching site. The observatory was built in the early sixties and is located at the entrance of the city, those who arrive from the Regional Road (Highway regional) of Funchal.
However, Câmara de Lobos is much more than that.
Today, the historic heritage of the civil parish of Camara de Lobos includes the church of St. Sebastian, the chapels, WHERE Immaculate Conception stands out, the lime-kiln, the old saltpans, the bandstand, located in Republic Square, and the old convent of San Bernardino.

While walking through the city center would be advisable, the best way to see the peculiar configuration of the bay is going all the way to the Peak Tower, taking the regional road connecting the city to the nearest village in the municipality: the Strait House Lobos.
At the heart of the House of Wolves there are bars and renowned restaurants where you can sample typical drinks like Poncha Câmara de Lobos and nibble some she-cat, a fish caught in the seas of the Madeira and left to dry in place. As such sometimes in a particular area by ancient salt, into the city, you can smell an intense aroma derived from the drying process.
Further, between the village Câmara de Lobos and Quinta Grande, lies the Cape Girão, where there is a gazebo. It's more than 580 meters tall and is the largest cable across Europe and the second highest in the world. A place, no doubt, not to be missed.
Câmara de Lobos is a very pleasant climate, with one of the best microclimates in Madeira Island, without significant changes in temperature throughout the year.
San Sebastian is the patron saint of this parish, whose feast is celebrated in Portugal on March 20.
Account History shows that the first settlers, where people of noble origin, of whom John Alfonso Zarco mate John Caldeira and can be identified.
Today, the economic activities of the parish are fishing, agriculture (bananas), trade, services and industry.
Worth mentioning is the fact-That, on the riverbed of the Ribeira Socorridos, Was built an Industrial Estate, Park West Industrial Zone (PIZO), where some of the most important regional Were established companies, such as Madeira Electricity (Electricity Company) and Beer Company (beer company).


The county was created in 1835 and the village was raised to city status on August 2 of 1996.