Câmara de Lobos, located on the south coast of the island of Madeira, was the first place inhabited by João Gonçalves Zarco, the discoverer of this "Pearl of the Atlantic". He stayed there between 1420 and 1424. It was the first settlement in Madeira. In 1430 it was elevated to the status of a parish. Its historical heritage is therefore of great importance.
The town's name comes from the fact that at the time of the discovery of the island there were a large number of monk seals in the bay. As then, they can still be found there today. In this region there are various monuments that commemorate this historical period, from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, founded in the 15th century, to the old Convent of São Bernardino, built in 1425, and the Church of São Sebastião, built in the 16th century.
The district of Câmara de Lobos currently has an area of 51.82 km² and around 35 thousand inhabitants. In addition to the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, the district includes four other municipalities: Curral das Freiras, Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, Jardim da Serra and Quinta Grande.
The landscape of this town is characterized by the characteristic fishing boats, the "Xavelhas". Visit Câmara de Lobos!