Canico (Madeira, Portugal)

The old village of Caniço is a bustling, rather appealing place, centred around a main square and 18th-century church, with a maze of one-way streets extending up into the surrounding hillsides. Most of the hotels, however, are situated in lower (Baixo) Caniço, a more recently built residential area on the coast, reached via a steep road or an even steeper, older, partly cobbled street.

Stretching for 1 mile along the coast and extending 700 yds inland, this relatively newer part of the village lacks character and much choice of amenities but enjoys a fine natural setting, its buildings, mostly new apartment blocks and hotels, terraced down the hillside. To the E of Baixo is the developing area of Reis Magos, which has a couple of large hotels, an oceanfront promenade and a small, stony beach but is otherwise lacking in amenities.

The areas is mostly suited to mature couples, as there is little or no nightlife. Steep terrain may not make it suitable for those with mobility difficulties. Popular German enclave somewhat fewer British visitors. 3- and 4-star hotels and apartments, all modern and mainly well appointed but with little overall plan. Developing timeshare presence.

Locality:

Canico is on the south east coast of the island, (it is 5 mls E of Funchal and 8 mls SW of the airport). It is set just off the coastal highway, in hilly terrain, the village of Caniço is situated on a small, flattish plateau 1½ mls inland, accessed by steep, winding road. The resort area of Caniço de Baixo hugs the coast, sitting above a dramatic shoreline of black volcanic rock.