Machico () is a municipality, parish and city in the southeast part of the island of Madeira, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The easternmost municipality on the island, it is also the third-most populous area with a population of 21,828 in 2011. The town, proper, had a population of 10,894 in 2001.
History
235px|left|thumb|A commemorative plaque marking the place where the first explorers disembarked on Madeira
In calm waters of the early afternoon, on 1 July 1419, João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira disembarked on the beach of Machico, beginning the era of Portuguese discoveries. On the beach a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated by Franciscan priests on the feast of the Visitation (2 June), an image of which accompanied the expedition. and continued to grow, following the course of the ravine into the valley.
Climate
Machico has a very mild mediterranean climate with small temperature differences between seasons. It is slightly cooler than Funchal in all seasons, but is still very mild in winter and has stable and warm summers, where heat-waves are rare. There is a very low diurnal temperature variation with night-time lows above being common in summer. The summer is also delayed in so-called seasonal lag. As a result, October is warmer than June in terms of daily mean temperature.
Economy
The economy is focused on agriculture, tourism, and fishing, although a small number of businesses and commercial establishments have concentrated in the centre of town. The main harbour is a mixture of personal and public uses, that includes a lighted promenade, scenic landscapes of the town, as well as a small harbour that is used as a fishing port and public harbour (usually filled with yachts).
thumb|130px|Cardinal De Mendonça, 2019
Notable people
- António Sebastião Spínola (1875 in Porto da Cruz – 1956) an Inspector General of Finances for Oliveira Salazar
- José Ornelas Carvalho (born 1954 in Porto da Cruz) a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church & current Bishop of Setúbal.
- José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça (born 1965 in Machico) a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church & Cardinal of the Vatican Library & Vatican Apostolic Archive
- Miguel Fidalgo (born 1982 in Caniçal) a footballer with over 320 club caps
- Nuno Viveiros (born 1983 in Machico) a former footballer with 376 club caps
- Élio Martins (born 1985 in Machico) a footballer with over 300 club caps