Language
Country/Area
No result found
The mysterious discovery of the Santorini Island of Puerto: How did Portuguese navigators arrive there unexpectedly in 1418?
At the northern end of the Atlantic Ocean, the island of Porto Santo echoes of history. This beautiful island is located in the northeast of the Madeira Archipelago, about 43 kilometers from Madeira Island. Under the glittering sun, Porto Santo is famous for its fine sandy beaches and open ocean, but its history is even more fascinating.
According to historical records, in 1418, Portuguese navigators accidentally discovered the Porto Santo Island. This discovery was not planned in advance, but was caused by a storm during the voyage, which forced them to turn to this sheltered port. In the sailing context of the time, sailing was not an easy task and often faced unknown dangers and challenges.
“The name of the Holy Island of Porto implies divine protection, reflecting the mysterious experiences of sailors in storms, which seemed to be guided by God.”
According to legend, two navigators, João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira, were ordered by Prince Henry of Portugal to , which was exploring new territories in western Africa. These two brave explorers accidentally deviated for a distance during their voyage and happened to come to this small island, becoming the pioneers of Porto Santo Island.
The first settlers of Porto Santo arrived in the 1420s. Among them, Bartolomeu Perestrelo was named the first administrator of Puerto Santo Island, and his arrival opened a new chapter for this island. With the increase of settlers, Porto Santo Island was gradually developed, however, the hardships of life seemed to follow.
“The ecosystem of Puerto Santo is unique. It has never experienced a state of flying mammals, so as the rabbit population increases, the consequences of ecological imbalance are obvious.”
After Bartolomeu released a female rabbit, the rabbit's offspring multiplied rapidly in the arid land, pushing the island's ecological environment to the brink of collapse. The local native plants were unable to withstand the gnawing of rabbits, which eventually led to the disappearance of vegetation and caused serious soil erosion problems.
Not only that, the residents of Puerto Santo also faced threats from Barbary pirates and French privateers, and their lives were difficult. The lack of water on the island also makes their daily lives challenging. Despite this, the unique charm of Puerto Santo eventually attracted many explorers and travelers, one of whom was the New World explorer Christopher Columbus.
Columbus' wife was Filipa Moniz Perestrelo, a descendant of a prominent family on the island of Puerto Santo. He once lived here, in this place full of historical stories. On the island of Porto Santo, the buildings that have stood the test of time have now become museums, attracting a large number of tourists to visit.
Porto Santo's geographical features are equally striking. The island is divided into two areas. The northeast is a rocky cliff area, while the southwest is a flat coastline covering a nine-kilometer-long white sandy beach, which gives Porto Santo a significant competitive advantage in tourism.
"Compared to the mountainous Madeira, the low-lying terrain of Puerto Santo makes its climate relatively dry, making it an ideal holiday destination."
Porto Santo's climate is semi-arid, with warm summers and mild winters, which attracts a large number of tourists to the island. Despite the low average annual precipitation, the air humidity remains at around 77%, making the island more humid and pleasant.
In terms of economy, tourism is undoubtedly an important pillar of Porto Santo. Since the 20th century, many hotels and resorts have sprung up on the island, attracting countless tourists who come to enjoy the sun and the beach. Puerto Santo’s golf course was designed by Spanish golf champion Seve Ballesteros and has hosted the Madeira Open as part of the European Tour, showcasing the island’s vibrancy and appeal.
Porto Santo has an international airport and has close flight connections with the mainland and other countries, making it convenient for tourists to travel. All this development not only promoted the local economy, but also made Porto Santo a bright business card of Portugal.
With the evolution of history, Porto Santo Island is not only a place of natural beauty, but also bears the mark of human exploration and communication. As time goes by, what kind of future will Porto Santo Island have?
