Porto Santo is a small Portuguese island about 20 miles from Maderia, out in the Atlantic Ocean. The island climate is quite dry, but
it has two hills, and a tendency to catch the wind - hence a high number of windmills were built there.
The windmills that remain fall into two main groups - small wooden or tin structures, not much larger than a shed, which
survive in anything from a ruinious state through to excellent condition, and larger stone built tower mills, some of which have been
house converted.
For both types, the symbol of a cockerel is often to be found at the apex of the roof.
Porto Santo
Vila Baleira
wooden
- conserved wooden mill, retaining sails, on tall random dry stone base Vila Baleira, 2005
[photo]
[photo]
[photo]
Campo De Baixo
tower
- Tower mill, house conversion Campo De Baixo, 2005
Campo De Baixo
wooden
- wooden mill, on cemented stone base Campo De Baixo, 2005
Campo De Baixo
tower
- short rendered tower, with sails remaining Campo De Baixo, 2005 Campo De Baixo, 2005 Cockerel detail, 2005
Campo De Baixo
wooden
- wooden mill, on cemented stone base Campo De Baixo, 2005
[photo]
Campo De Baixo
wind turbine
- modern wind turbine, produced by Vestas Campo De Baixo, 2005
