Columbus Festival

The Columbus Festival takes place in Porto Santo every year between September 19th and 22nd and aims to recreate the arrival of Christopher Columbus on the island.

Concerts, reenactments and a 16th century market are organized, boosting the island and local commerce. As part of this commemorative event, the Nau de Santa Maria heads to Porto Santo to stage the landing of Christopher Columbus, leaving the Port of Funchal at around 7:00 am and returning at dawn, around 01:00 am.

This festival of a historical and cultural nature aims to recreate the atmosphere that Christopher Columbus encountered while passing through the island of Porto Santo. The program of activities includes lectures on regional culture, musical performances and reenactments from the period, storytelling, a 16th century market, acrobatics and juggling, and a reenactment of Columbus’landing with the participation of the Nau Santa Maria. All of this accompanied by period costumes.