Ilha (

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

for "island") is a

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...

in the municipality of

Santana Santana may refer to: Transportation * Volkswagen Santana, an automobile * Santana Cycles, manufacturer of tandem bicycles * Santana Motors, a former Spanish automobile manufacturer Boats * Santana 20, an American sailboat design by W. D. Sch ...

in the

archipelago of

Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circled.svg , map_alt=Location of Madeira , map_caption=Location of Madeira , subdivision_type=Sovereign st ...

. The population in 2011 was 255, in an area of 14.19 km².

History

The history of this parish extends from the end of the 20th century, when it was created in 1989 by de-annexation from the civil parish of São Jorge.Câmara Municipal/Terra Cidade (2011), p.52 Its name was an extension of geomorphological characteristics, since it was an "island" between many of its other neighbours (''ilha'' is the Portuguese word for ''island''), one of the few landlocked parishes on the island of Madeira.

Geography

Ilha is located along the northern coast, buttressed by the neighbouring civil parishes of

Arco de São Jorge Arco de São Jorge is a civil parish in the municipality of Santana, the Portuguese island of Madeira ) , anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira") , song_type = Regional anthem , image_map=EU-Portugal_with_Madeira_circle ...

(in the west) and São Jorge (to the east). It contains the localities Achadinha, Corrida, Ermida, Garnal, Lombada do Meio and Lombo Grande. The site of Achada do Marques is classified as a protected landscape ( pt, Paisagem Protegida) and part of the ''Parque Natural da Madeira''.Câmara Municipal/Terra Cidade (2011), p.53 The classification was made to not only preserve the natural environment and landscape, but also to maintain the habits and traditions of the zone. Caldeirão Verde, another popular tourist destination in the parish, is part of the pedestrian trails that cross the island. In particular, from Caldeirão Verde, it is possible to follow a trail through the UNESCO protected Laurisilva forests to the locally-known ''Cascata do Caldeirão Verde'' (''waterfall of Caldeirão Verde''). In addition, Pico Ruivo, the highest point on the island at falls within the parishes frontiers, and although a highly difficult climb (third highest nationallyThe summit is only third to the mountains of the ''

Serra da Estrela Serra da Estrela () is the highest mountain range in Continental Portugal. Together with the Serra da Lousã it is the westernmost constituent range of the Sistema Central and also one of the highest in the system. It includes mainland Portugal's ...

'' and ''

Pico Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeir ...

'' (the tallest point in Portugal and the Azores).), its summit can be reached from within the trail network. Other pedestrian trails of note: Levada da Ilha-Vale da Lapa-Caldeirão Verde and Pico Ruivo-Encumeada.

Economy

Its primary economic resource is the agricultural industry, served by dairy and cattle-raising. In addition it supports a small economic collectivity that includes small shops, cafes and bars, in addition to health care centre. A locally produced beverage/liquor, "Ponchilha", based on lemons is produced in this region and originally commercialized by the ''Empresa de Inserção Social da Casa do Povo da Ilha'' (the local community/social centre).

Culture

In the month of August, the Casa do Povo da Ilha organizes a ''Dia do Emigrante'' (''Emigrant Day'') for those former residents who left Ilha in search of better economic conditions.Câmara Municipal/Terra Cidade (2011), p.55 On the last weekend of September and first of October, the festivals in honour of the ''Santissimo Sacramento'' (''Holy Sacrament'') and patron saint (''Our Lady of the Rosary'') are also celebrated. Finally, at the end of November and beginning of December, the ''Semana Cultural da Ilha'' (''Cultural Week of Ilha'') result in various cultural activities based on a specific theme.

References

* {{authority control Freguesias of Santana, Madeira