History of Madeira Photo Gallery

The windmills of Porto Santo date from 1794 when the first was recorded as having been built. Originally built to grind the grain for bread making, these structures benefited from Porto Santo's barren, flat, low lying topography which means the wind is unhindered. Many are now scattered around the island, some have fallen into disrepair whilst others are still fully functional. The windmills fall into two main groups, namely, the small wooden or tin structures and the larger stone built tower mills. Often, the symbol of a cockerel can be found at the apex of the roof.