Ribeira Brava is a small, charming seaside resort in the south of Madeira Island. It takes its name (“Wild River”) from the river that runs through it. When the rains are heavy, the river rushes down to the sea. Nestled in a landscape of banana plantations and, higher up, vineyards, the town with its dapper white houses is as if immersed in an ocean of greenery.
Around the Igreja de São Bento church, considered a must-see regional monument, people sit on benches and terraces to enjoy the mild, tranquil atmosphere. On the ocean side, a black-sand beach has been laid out, protected from the winds, for a serene swim.
On the road to Ribeira Brava is the Cape Girão observatory, located on Europe’s highest promontory at 580 m, offering breathtaking views of the fajãs of Rancho and Cape Girão – small areas of cultivated land at the foot of the cliff – as well as magnificent panoramic views of the ocean and the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos and Funchal.
The visit to Ribeira Brava was made on August 24, 2018.
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