GAULA
(PARISH OF SANTA CRUZ MUNICIPALITY)
32° 40' 28" N 16° 48' 42" W
Gaula is a parish in the municipality of Santa Cruz, with an area of 7.07 km² and 3,925 inhabitants (2021). Its population density is 555.2 inhabitants/km². Gaula has a road that connects it to Funchal and Machico. The main economic activity is agriculture. Gaula is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and has mountains to the north.
Gaula has two schools, a sports court, two churches and an agricultural market. In 2014, the Gaula Parish Council inaugurated a rural heritage tourist route called "Water Route".
History
The oldest documented references take us to the year 1509, a period in which it is said that it was constituted and that King D. Manuel I contributed to the creation of the chaplaincy of Santa Maria da Luz. In 1558 Gaula was elevated to parish status.
Gaula was inhabited by immigrants from the Portuguese Mainland, from regions outside Lisbon and Porto, people who mostly lived off the land. But also, merchants, who came to Madeira for reasons of survival.
Getting to Gaula in the past - by sea
For centuries, the most practical and quickest way to reach Gaula was by sea, through the Aldonça pebble and the Porto Novo pebble, which were at the time the parish's two fishing ports. Until the end of the Second World War, Porto Novo was considered the gateway to Gaula, visitors, workers and goods came and went to Funchal and other locations on the south and north coast of the island. The falueiros left for Porto Santo, loaded with firewood and foodstuffs, bringing cereals and cattle on the way back. Boats also left Porto Novo for Deserta Grande and Bugiu, returning loaded with limpets, wrasses and bundles of lucerne for export.
Patrimony
In Gaula there is a rich set of heritage to visit and they are points of great interest, you can find mansions, churches, water mills, forts, viewpoints, fountains, oil presses, washhouses, levadas.
The most recent tourist attraction, the "Water Route", which takes people to pass through these spaces mentioned above, the mills, fountains, among others.
Solar
Solar de São João Laterão
The Solar de São João Latrão is located on the site of São João, it was built in the 18th century, more precisely in 1625, to replace the old inns of the parish morgado. In 1949 it was restored and the current chapel of São João Laterão was built.
Solar de Nossa Senhora de Assunção da Torre
The existence of this manor house is mentioned in the parish books of Gaula since 1675. Farm with a chapel with the same name, belonging to and serving as the headquarters of the morgado of Nossa Senhora da Assunção da Torre, where its last administrator was the Count of Calçada, Diogo Ornelas de França Carvalhal Frazão e Figueiroa, who ended up selling the property to the caretakers.
This square-shaped building consisting of two floors has a gate with a wide entrance crafted in hard stonework from the 18th century.
Levada do Pico dos Iroses
Levada do Pico dos Iroses was born with the clearing of the virgin lands of Gaula, long before the founding of Gaula as a parish. It can be referred to in several documents with different names such as Irós, Iroses, Eirós and Eiroses. Gaula was considered a self-sufficient parish in terms of water, with this in mind the Levada do Pico dos Iroses was an essential supply keeping the parish green and productive.
Madre da Levada, as it is popularly known, is the starting point of the levada, made up of a flow that extends from the sources of the mountain, in the upper course of Ribeira da Boaventura, taking it along different paths, to end in a single confluence at Porto Novo. This levada has been watering the entire part of the parish since before the middle of the 16th century, which in 1800 was irrigated every 24 days.
Economy
The economy of the parish of Gaula is only in the primary sector with agriculture being the main economic activity.
In addition to agriculture, Gaula also has carpentry, bakery, sawmill and dairy activities.
Water Route
The "Water Route" is a rural heritage tourist trail where visitors can visit mills, fountains and washing machines along the route. The starting point is at the Achada de Baixo site and shows what life was like for the population many years ago with the water walk assuming a prominent role in people's lives. During the route you will find all the heritage of this route, which is made up of public fountains, levadas, paths, public washers, levada washers, water distribution houses, stone wells, water mills, among others. This itinerary is an excellent opportunity for the social, economic and cultural dynamism of Gaula.
Places
Achada de Baixo; Achada de Cima; Achada da Rocha; Aldonça; Beatas; Contenda (Gaula)
Farrobo; Fazenda (Gaula); Fazendinha (Gaula); Fonte (Gaula); Fonte do Lopo; Furtados
Lajes (Gaula); Levadas (Gaula); Lobas; Lombadinha; Salão (Gaula); São João (Gaula)
Pico (Gaula); Porto Novo (Gaula); Povo (Gaula)
Bathing Areas
The parish of Gaula is not very popular for bathing purposes, however in this parish we can find three pebble beaches, namely Praia das Fontes, Praia da Aldonça and Praia do Porto Novo. These three beaches are not supervised or have a Blue Flag.
Porto Novo Beach
Porto Novo beach is located next to the Porto Novo commercial aggregates pier. With access by car close to the beach, it is not very popular, but it is a beach admired by these bathers.
Aldonça and Fontes beaches
These two areas with access to the sea are considered small natural refuges, due to the low demand for these two beaches and the fact that access is not possible by car and has to be done on a path and stairs to get there. On Praia das Fontes there is a cave and also a water fountain.
Events
The religious festivals that take place in this parish are the highlight of the events. Recently, the Amora festival became a gastronomic attraction in the parish. and is celebrated on the second weekend of September.
Feast of the Lord (Blessed Sacrament), July.
Feast of the patron saint, N.ª S.ª da Luz takes place on the third Sunday of September.
Feast of Grace, August.
Blackberry Festival and Traditional Sweets, second weekend in September
Contenda Viewpoint
32.674245, -16.818018
Madeira has plenty of amazing landscapes worthy of being photographed. The Contenda Viewpoint offers visitors one of these striking sceneries, marked by the imposing presence of the ocean and by the tropical exuberance of Nature, which we find all across the island.
This observatory is located in Contenda, in the parish of Gaula. This town, which is part of the municipality of Santa Cruz, benefits from a privileged location, halfway between the sea and the mountains. In terms of economic activity, it stands out for the manufacturing of the famous Madeira Embroidery.
The Contenda Viewpoint is located in this quiet town. This viewpoint is surrounded by a green atmosphere, inviting visitors to enjoy relaxing moments of contemplation, sitting on one of its benches.
From the Contenda Viewpoint, you can see points of interest such as Ponta de São Lourenço, a peninsula located on the eastern tip of the island, the parish of Santa Cruz, where the Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport is located, or, on clear days, the Desertas Islands (Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio).
Details
The Contenda Viewpoint is located in the parish of Gaula, allowing you to peacefully contemplate points of interest such as Ponta de São Lourenço, Santa Cruz or the Desertas Islands.
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