Jardim do Mar, Madeira Island

Jardim do Mar (literally ‘garden of the sea’) was first under the authority of Prazeres and Paul do Mar gaining its independence in the 18th century.

Its name originates in the transition between steep slopes without vegetation and a wonderful green seaside resort that was once covered with a mantle of wild flowers.

Surrounded by the sea and cloaked by the mountains, this parish preserves the tranquillity of the old days, of which the old narrow streets and low-level houses with different shapes of chimneys still bear witness.

Jardim do Mar became the island’s meeting point for the international surfing community. Due to its location, the Madeira archipelago is a privileged spot to receive swells of the North Atlantic and has all sorts of waves, from point breaks to reef breaks.