Cais da Ponta do Sol

"With a peculiar architectural profile, the Ponta do Sol Pier is a point of interest with considerable historical value. It is a place to include on any itinerary along the west coast of Madeira Island. This building was commissioned by the Ponta do Sol Town Council in the mid-19th century. Designed by Tibério Augusto Blanc, a captain and engineer, it was inaugurated on 9 September 1849. It was later called the “Duke of Luxembourg Pier”, following the donation made to the town by Duke Maximilian of Leuchtenberg during his visit. The Ponta do Sol Pier stands out architecturally for its large round arch, which establishes the connection between the coastal escarpment and the pier. It is worth noting that the entire structure was built using regional stone, such as basalt, ashlar and pebbles. Located at the entrance to the pier, you can see an old prison, carved into the rock, and the guardhouse. For a long time, the Ponta do Sol Pier was the safest and largest on the entire southwest slope of Madeira Island. Today, it houses a restaurant and a bar overlooking Ponta do Sol Beach."