Caniçal

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Caniçal is a municipality in the district of Machico in the northeast of Madeira. June 30, 2011 Caniçal had 3921 inhabitants ² on an area of 11.9 km.

History

The area of ​​the eastern tip of Madeira was passed as a fief Vasco Moniz. The first settlement was formed there the origin of the present-day village. With the entry into Moniz ' Testament of the town is mentioned for the first time on September 5, 1489. Due to the uncertainty of connection paths to Machico a first chapel was here in 1527 with the Capelinha do Caniçal inaugurated. Since 1561 Caniçal is a separate municipality. Your seat moved them in the newly built church Capela de São Sebastião, which was plundered by pirates in 1594, and after its restoration the earthquake of 1748 fell victim. In the 16th and 17th century chapels were built. From the 18th century the population shifted westward, where in 1749 the present church was built. The ongoing pirate attacks prompted the Marquês de Pombal, to build near a harbor with military installations.

1867, work began on the lighthouse ( Farol da Ponta de São Lourenço ), which from its opening in 1870, the seafaring on the dangerous rocky coast safer designed. In October 1845 the ship was sunk Forerunner here.

1909 laid the municipal administration to a small quay. 1931 landed there 700 Portuguese soldiers, to the taking of the 1926 built in Companhia Portuguesa Alagoa radio station Rádio Marconi, which was occupied by insurgents.

In 1942, the whaling company Empresa Baleeira do Arquipélago moved da Madeira at the place Cancela. This brought the poor region of a first economic boom, which, however, clearly only began with the subsequent opening of the 16 km long aquaduct and Machico Caniçal with which henceforth possible irrigation of soils. The construction of the road tunnel in the 1960s ended the relative isolation of the community. The State CTT taught here in the sequence a service of a, the Whaling Museum ( Museu da Baleia '' ''), and finally the establishment of the Free Trade Zone '' Zona Franca Industrial '' were more moments of development.

1994 Caniçal to Vila ( town ) has been charged.

Culture, Sports and Attractions

In addition to various cultural societies in particular is the football club CF Caniçal of importance in the community. He plays in the II ª Divisão, the third Portuguese football league.

In the adjacent nature reserve Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula trails and nature trails are created.

The 1749 newly built, dedicated to St. Sebastian's Church Igreja de São Sebastião, which goes back to an earlier chapel from the 16th century, distinguished by their Mannerist design elements. It has an ornate wooden ceiling and various altarpieces from the 18th century. The two 37 cm high figures of the 18th century, however, are rather poorly preserved. The church is a listed building since 2001.

Demographics

Economy

Tuna fishing is still operating, but has declined in importance. In the Zona Franca do Caniçal ( FTA Caniçal ) industry is located where, inter alia, Cosmetics from Aloe Vera and innovative Madeira embroidery are made. Its significance from the FTA but more from trade between the EU and third countries, and even more about its port via which the entire freight traffic is handled Madeira. In smaller wind farm electricity is produced on the peninsula.

Personalities

• Frederico Cunha (* 1951); for murder in Caniçal convicted Catholic priest