Candidatura Reserva da Biosfera - Santana Madeira Biosfera

Figure 5. Arco São Jorge Church
The Municipality of Santana is geographically, the second largest municipality in the
Autonomous Region of Madeira and therefore has a strong representation of the
important elements of Madeira’s biodiversity, at species and ecosystems level.
Santana, being a municipality that stretches from sea to the highest peaks of
Madeira, comprises a considerable extension of Mountains, Valleys, Plateaus, Achadas
(flattened hills) and Fajãs (land slide deposits), which includes the highest point on the
island of Madeira, Pico Ruivo (1861 meters).
The Municipality of Santana is one of the municipalities that best illustrates the
preparation of typical dishes from the Madeira Islands. Some factors contributing to this
reality, including the knowledge and traditions that pass from generation to generation:
the care and affection of Santana’s populace preparing food, good and high agricultural
productivity throughout the year, always providing fresh foods, many of these cultivated
by organic methods. The eateries where the delicacies can be tasted vary greatly and are
distributed all over the county.
In fact, the existence of a unique environmental and ecological wealth of high
importance for biodiversity conservation, not only regionally but also globally, together
with the existence of a reduced population density that divulges their culture and
customs across borders, makes the Municipality of Santana an appropriate place to
Application of Santana, Madeira to Biosphere Reserve – UNESCO - MAB 15