Featured Event

During Columbus Festival, in an atmosphere evoking the period of the Portuguese Maritime Discoveries, the island of Porto Santo puts on a whole range of concerts and performances linked to music and theatre. 

Vila Baleira devotes a week to the navigator Christopher Columbus, who passed through this island and spent several years of his life living here. Columbus came into contact with Madeira in 1478, when the inhabitants of Funchal were devoting their energies to the sugar trade. Columbus lived in this archipelago after marrying the daughter of the captain of Porto Santo. His son Diogo was born here.

This festival is designed to remind people of Columbus’ time in the Madeira Archipelago, during the course of his voyages to the American continent, as well as the whole epic story of the period of the Discoveries.

Music, exhibitions, street entertainment and a historical parade recreate the medieval atmosphere of Columbus’ disembarkation with his companions on the town’s quay. The festivities serve to make this week a truly "historic" one.