Prazeres () is a civil parish in the municipality of Calheta in the Portuguese archipelago of

Madeira Madeira ( ; ), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (), is an autonomous Regions of Portugal, autonomous region of Portugal. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Macaronesia, just under north of ...

. The population in 2011 was 704, in an area of 10.03 km².Eurostat
/ref> Prazeres is located along the main Regional 222 Roadway, linking it to Fajã da Ovelha and

Estreito da Calheta Estreito da Calheta ( Portuguese for ''strait of Calheta'') is a civil parish in the municipality of Calheta in the Portuguese island of Madeira Madeira ( ; ), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (), is an autonomous Regions of Po ...

. Agriculture continues to be the driving activity in the region, although commercial establishments are scattered within the community.

History

The name for the parish developed due to the existence of a small chapel in the area before the creation of the parish, dedicated to Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres (). The reference to ''pleasure'' came from local references to an area that captivated the senses and the areas symbiosis with earthly pleasures. Historically a part of Estreito da Calheta, this region became independent, along with some homes in Fajã da Ovelha on 18 December 1676.

Geography

Prazeres is central parish within the municipality of Calheta, juxtopositioned between

and Fajã da Ovelha. Physically, it extends from the edge of the escarpment overlooking the Atlantic Ocean into the interior to the Serra do Paul. In addition, upon reaching its pinnacle in the interior (1276 metres) the border continues down the river-valley of the Ribeira da Janela. Most of the community, the built-up residential, commercial and productive buildings of the parish, are located on a main promontory overlooking the fajã (coastal debris field) of the parish of

Jardim do Mar Jardim do Mar ( Portuguese for ''garden of the sea'') is a civil parish in the western part of the municipality of Calheta in the Portuguese island of Madeira. The population in 2011 was 204, in an area of 0.74 km2.Caminho Real, one of the official ''Madeira Islands Footpaths'' (PR19) starts in Prazeres and leads to Paul do Mar. The parish has seven restaurants, serving typical traditional delicacies (such as cod) or other customary foods, such as Italian pizzas, lasagnas or pasta dishes. A popular drink, Poncha da Madeira, is a traditional liqueur drink made from lemon or orange brandy, and common in many of these restaurants.

References

;Notes ;Sources * {{authority control Parishes of Calheta, Madeira