Named after St Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, Santana is a
village of hedgerows and flowers on the north-eastern side of
Madeira Island. Complete with waterfalls, cobble-stoned streets,
luch-green green meadows and plunging ravines, it is without
doubt one of the prettiest villages in Europe. What to see. With their thatched roofs and wood-panelled
interiors, the famous triangular-shaped houses of Santana are
a must-see attraction in Madeira. More than 100 hundred of them
still exist, thanks to a tourism initiative to reward the best-kept
house. Some open their doors to visitors, who are always surprised
by the amount of available space inside. The town's parish church
built in 1698 features impressive retables to the two side altars. Nearby. 5 km north of Santana lies São Jorge,
a picturesque village most notable for its richly ornamented
17th century church.
