Coast · South coast
Fajã dos Padres
Fajã dos Padres is a small and exceptionally fertile strip of land on Madeira’s south coast, sheltered at the foot of a dramatic cliff beside the Atlantic Ocean. The name means “Fajã of the Priests”, referring to the Jesuits who once owned and cultivated the estate. Its warm, protected microclimate has made it one of the island’s most unusual places for farming, wine and subtropical fruit.
History and character
The history of Fajã dos Padres goes back to the early settlement of Madeira in the 15th century. The estate later belonged to the Society of Jesus for around 150 years, which is why the place became known as “Fajã of the Priests”. The Jesuits helped establish vineyards here, including grapes used for Malmsey, one of Madeira’s historic fortified wines. For generations, the isolated land was reached mainly by boat, while its harvest had to be moved by sea or hauled up the cliffs. Grapes and sugar cane were important historical crops; after the Second World War, bananas became dominant for several decades. The property was restructured in the early 1980s, and the cable car opened in 2003 to provide safe, fast and practical access for people and agricultural produce. It replaced dependence on the sea and made it possible to develop visitor accommodation, a restaurant and a more accessible working farm without building a road through the unstable cliff.
Why visit
- A secluded coastal estate beneath a cliff of around 300 metres, reached by cable car or boat
- A warm microclimate that allows subtropical crops to grow close to the Atlantic
- Historic vineyards connected with Malmsey, one of Madeira’s traditional fortified wines
- Bananas, grapes, mangoes, avocados, guavas, papayas, passion fruit, figs, pomegranates and seasonal produce
- The cable car, opened in 2003, carries both visitors and farm products down and up the cliff
- A roughly four-minute panoramic ride with views over the south coast, vineyards and cultivated terraces
- A small beach and bay, restaurant, walking paths and accommodation among the gardens
- An example of how Madeira’s isolated coastal fajãs were shaped by farming, the sea and difficult access
Practical tip
Check the cable-car timetable before travelling, especially in winter or in strong wind. Allow time to walk through the gardens and have lunch by the sea. The cable car is the normal access route; it is also used to transport farm produce, so treat it as part of the working life of Fajã dos Padres, not only as an attraction.