On June 26, 1515, the parish of Santa Cruz was elevated to town, by royal letter signed by D. Manuel I. Being one of the oldest and most numerous settlements in Madeira, Santa Cruz initially belonged to the Captaincy of Machico,until it got disintegrated, thus forming a municipality that extended from “Porto do Seixo” to “Caniço”. This elevation to the village occurs under the influence of the squire João de Freitas Correia (nc 1470; f. 4-11-1544), “Vedor da Fazenda” of Santa Cruz area, who welcomed in his house, the first councilor of the newly created village, that later passed to its Domus Municipalis, of Manueline style, today still headquarters of the municipality. He also played a leading role in the founding of the “Igreja Matriz de Santa Cruz”, dedicated to São Salvador, being buried in the main chapel, in recognition of its relevant services during the construction of the same.
Santa Cruz was elevated to the category of city on August 2, 1996, by Regional Legislative Decree No. 14/96 / M, being composed of five parishes, namely “Camacha”, “Caniço”, “Gaula”, “Santa Cruz” and “Santo António da Serra”. The Desertas islands, constituted by the islands “Bugio”, “Deserta Grande” and “Ilhéu Chão”, are also an integral part of this municipality.

Credits: Museu de Fotografia da Madeira - Atelier Vicente's.

 

JOAQUIM AUGUSTO DE SOUSA | Garden and Largo da Igreja de São Salvador (now Dr. João Abel de Freitas Square), Parish and Municipality of Santa Cruz | Before 1905
10.7 x 16.3 cm | Simple negative, glass | Gelatin and silver salts
MFM-AV, Inv. JAS / 238

 

 

 

JOAQUIM AUGUSTO DE SOUSA | Group portrait of men on the lawn of Quinta do Seixeiro (now Quinta Ferraz), Parish of Santo António da Serra, Municipality of Santa Cruz | Early century. XX
16.3 x 21.4 cm | Simple negative, glass | Gelatin and silver salts
MFM-AV, Inv. JAS / 873

 

 

 

JOÃO BIANCHI | Group portrait of men and youth in Largo da Achada, Parish of Camacha, Municipality of Santa Cruz | Before 1928
8.2 x 16.3 cm | Stereoscopic negative, glass | Gelatin and silver salts
MFM-AV, Inv. VVP / 131

 

 

 

PERESTRELLOS PHOTOGRAPHOS | Panoramic view of the parishes of Gaula and Santa Cruz, municipality of Santa Cruz, observing the church of Nossa Senhora da Luz | Between 1927 and 1961
9.9 x 14.9 cm | Simple negative, glass | Gelatin and silver salts
MFM-AV, Inv. PER / 808

 

 

 

PERESTRELLOS PHOTOGRAPHOS | Panoramic view of the parish of Caniço, municipality of Santa Cruz, observing the church of Santo Antão | After 1931
9.8 x 14.8 cm | Simple negative, glass | Gelatin and silver salts
MFM-AV, Inv. PER / 807