The mills and fountains on the island of Porto Santo brought back to life for visitors to enjoy
In this episode of Smart Regions, discover the European project to restore the island of Porto Santo, which is reviving its cultural heritage by rehabilitating its windmills and public fountains. A reconnection with the past for a unique tourist experience.
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00:00 A thousand kilometers south of Lisbon, in the middle of the Atlantic, stands Porto Santo,
00:07 a biosphere reserve. It is the second largest island in the Madeira archipelago. Today,
00:13 a European project is showcasing its windmills and old public fountains, two signs of identity
00:19 with which the Golden Island is strengthening its tourism while preserving and passing on
00:24 its heritage.
00:30 These elements of the traditional architecture were damaged, obsolete and unkept, so there
00:34 was an urgent need to showcase this heritage of our ancestors, not only to the local population
00:40 but also to the tourists who visit us, since tourism is the main economic activity on the
00:45 island.
00:54 Porto Santo was for a time home of Christopher Columbus. For decades, the Portuguese island
00:59 was Madeira's granary, hence its windmills. Most were built in the 19th century. With
01:06 this project, the municipality has also restored more than a dozen public fountains and wash
01:11 basins. Residents and visitors alike are reclaiming this heritage, like these secondary school
01:17 pupils and their teacher.
01:19 "We are at the Fontinha fountain, which dates back to 1844. And it's curious because later
01:26 on medicinal properties were discovered in this spring."
01:38 "Before doing this trip here, I didn't know that there was a shortage of water in Porto
01:41 Santo and that fountains were created to change this. I also didn't know that windmills were
01:47 used to grind cereals or that there was so much activity in Porto Santo."
01:53 The total cost of the project is more than 340,000 euros. The European Union contributed
01:58 85 percent and the municipality of Porto Santo contributed the remaining 15 percent.
02:05 The project involves the restoration of three mills, 14 public fountains and a training
02:09 and exhibition center.
02:12 This is the Ecoteca or Count's house, which is open to all and is currently being refurbished.
02:17 In this transmission of knowledge, we learn that there used to be 30 windmills on the
02:20 island, but very few are still standing.
02:25 Three of the windmills, out of use and damaged, have been dismantled and are being rebuilt
02:30 the old-fashioned way in this company on the island of Madeira, so that they will soon
02:34 be back on their stone bases.
02:36 "Having the measurements of the base, we were able to make everything else that involves
02:44 the mill itself and use pine-treated wood with autoclave. So maybe it will hold for
02:51 10, 20 or even 30 years."
02:58 (upbeat music)