São Vicente is a historic and tourist town in Madeira, the most important attraction of which are volcanic caves and the Volcanism Center located in their vicinity.
The city was founded in the 17th century and a lot of historic buildings have been preserved in it. The most important monuments include the baroque church of St. Vincent with a richly decorated interior and its surroundings, which are dominated by whitewashed houses with stone window framing and colorful shutters. The city's architecture is complemented by chapels blended into the landscape, the Chapel of NS Fatima and the Chapel of Sao Vincente.
The biggest attraction of São Vicente are the lava Caves of Sao Vincente with a kilometer long underground tourist route. Next door, there is the Volcanism Center, which provides an interactive and accessible way to learn about the formation of volcanoes and their activity.
Although São Vicente is located on the seashore, there are relatively few typical seaside entertainment here. The only beach in the city is covered with dark gravel and pebbles, and the bathing area next to it is protected against waves. The beach is guarded in summer.
The surrounding towns, famous for their picturesque landscapes, steep cliffs and beautiful views, are much more eagerly visited. One of the most photographed objects is the Sao Vincente Waterfall falling from a vertical rock wall. You can also go to the Cataplana viewpoint from where you can see wonderful panoramas of the coast.
