Santana on Madeira has some of the cutest homes I ever saw. Beautifully maintained, I found it a little sad that I had to queue up for a look inside and to purchase a thimbleful of liqueur, when once such hospitality might have been offered freely. Still, I suppose it’s a small price to pay to preserve these unique homes, with their triangular roofs, thatched in straw. Once they were occupied by local farmers. Now they are a mainstay of tourism in this rugged northern part of the island.
They’re a little different from Jake’s chosen home this week, but equally unique. Pay him a visit? It won’t cost you! Just click on the logo.


it looks very pretty but I imagine it would feel quite confined
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The windows are tiny so with the door open on a sunny day, it’s fine, Jo. Think I’d spend a lot of time in the garden because the views were lovely. 🙂
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So cute and so tiny! You always have the best pictures Jo!
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Thanks, Julia 🙂 I try!
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Very unique and beautiful home Jo ,Thanks for respond …I love it 🙂
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Glad you do, Jake. 🙂 It’s lovely to have you back, whenever you can make it.
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I’ll bet it’s cozy inside, but I don’t think it would hold all of my books. 🙂 It is very cute, Jo!
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Maybe half your books, Jill? There might be a garden shed for the rest, because it would be lovely to sit outside and read. Some of the views were stunning. 🙂
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They are so quaint looking. What were they like inside?
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Small, Colline. Those windows aren’t very big so it would definitely be “cosy” on a winter’s day 🙂
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I imagine then that they are dark inside?
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It was a bright sunlit day and the door was open so hard to judge, Colline. The walls were painted white, but there were people filing through all the time. Nicer in the garden with the lovely views. 🙂
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ho avuto anche io la stessa esperienza visitando Madeira, in effetti ho riso un po’, ma ogni paese ha il suo modo di ricevere gli ospiti he he
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That’s tourism, Ventis! But it pays to thatch the roofs, I hope 🙂
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Fit for a gnome. 🙂 Definitely unique and cozy looking. Very few freebies on the tourist trail, but I probably would have paid to peek in. Am glad you did. The picture format is perfect for these houses.
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It didn’t seem a very dignified way to live, Lynne, but when you have to replace straw roofs every few years I don’t suppose you care. Maybe the Madeiran government help out. 🙂
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My boss is off to Madeira next week. I’ve already told her to go on one of those downhill whacker chair rides. Should I also mention Santana? (She’s staying just outside Funchal)
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I did it as part of a round the island tour, Rich, so we weren’t there long. There are 2 round the island tours- one east, one west, both with Strawberry World, and excellent value. We did both, so I could recommend them. The Monte Palace gardens and the cable cars are not to miss either. 🙂
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They appear a little surreal tbh – less homes and more exhibits – how were they inside Jo?
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A bit small, but there tended to be quite a few people filing through, Scott. I think they are lived in- gave that impression, anyway 🙂
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Certainly unique Jo…I too thought your had zoomed into a miniature house!! Love the fancy shapes 🙂
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Old photos, needing a bit of “snazzing up”, Madhu. Lovely place though. I liked Madeira a lot 🙂
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How cute! But I’m not sure I’d want to live in one!
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Very touristy when I was there, Jude, but I guess they have to pay for the upkeep somehow. The roofs have to be replaced every few years.
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At first I thought this was a miniature house because of the man standing in the doorway. It’s really cute and I’m glad they’re preserving it. How did you do your fancy picture shapes? Lovely pictures, Jo! 🙂
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They’re quite old photos and they needed a trim, Cathy. One of my options is different shapes but I seldom use them. Nice for a change 🙂 Any news?
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I like the different shapes. It adds a nice touch. No news and I feel certain I won’t get called back on that job. It was in Baltimore so would have required me to relocate anyway, and not sure I want that, at least not at this point. I’m still at work applying for more jobs, and plodding along with my novel. 🙂
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At least there are jobs out there for you to apply for, Cathy. I’m pretty sure I’d struggle to find anything other than the corner shop! 🙂 (good job we don’t have one)
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OH this is wonderful. Looks like a little doll house.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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It’s bigger than it looks in the shot, Francine, but I don’t recall it being very big inside 🙂
Thank you!
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Saw these gorgeous houses years ago, love the pictures – they reminded me of a great holiday!
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I loved Madeira, Joy! We only had a week but I saw as much as I possibly could. 🙂
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I have been there and had quite forgotten all about it – thanks for the reminder. Your images are much better than anything I remember capturing.
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They weren’t great, Robin, but I trimmed them a bit (too many people) and added shape to throw you off the scent 🙂
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So charming!
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I like a bit of fantasy, Cindy 🙂
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Very cute – very well captured… 🙂
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Thanks, Drake 🙂
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Very pretty houses, Jo. They look as though the occupiers should all be perfectly presented, in traditional costumes, to serve the thimbleful of liqueur.
A unique take on Jake’s theme 😉
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An elderly guy in a check shirt, as I remember, Marianne. Not sure if he was the actual owner, but I think so. 🙂
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I went there many years ago, and you’ve reminded me of those pretty houses 🙂
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I loved the island. The tourist experience at Santana, not so much.
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unique is the right word, so cute, was it pretty inside Jo?
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Quite cramped, actually, Christine. But that’s probably because it was a conveyor belt of tourists passing through. I felt uncomfortable with the whole experience, but I guess that’s what the owner does for a living.
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each to his own I guess Jo 🙂
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