Standing with open arms atop the dramatic cliffs of the Ponta do Garajau viewpoint is this impressive statue of Christ the King (Cristo Rei). The monument, also known as the Sacred Heart statue, was built in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was funded by a local counsellor, Aires de Ornelas, the son of a prominent land-owning family, and was officially inaugurated on October 30, 1927. With its stunning coastal views, the statue is a beloved local landmark.

Blessed Charles of Austria (Beato Carlos de Habsburgo) was born in 1887 into the Habsburg dynasty. The great-nephew of Emperor Franz Joseph, Charles received a devoutly Catholic education from a young age. A prophecy from a stigmatic nun foretold that he would endure great suffering, which led a group of people to form a prayer league for him in his childhood. This later became a Church-recognized prayer community after his death. On October 21, 1911, he married Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, and the couple enjoyed a happy and exemplary married life, blessed with eight children.

Charles's life changed forever on June 28, 1914, when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand made him the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In November 1916, in the midst of the First World War, Emperor Franz Joseph died, and Charles became Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of Hungary. He viewed his duty as a way to follow Christ by serving his people and, most importantly, by working for peace. Throughout the terrible war, he was the only political leader to support Pope Benedict XV's peace efforts. He also created broad and exemplary social legislation, inspired by his Christian faith.

At the end of the war and the collapse of the empire, Charles's actions helped ensure a transition to a new order without a civil war, yet he was still banished from his homeland. Fearing the rise of communism in Central Europe, the Pope encouraged Charles to try and restore his authority in Hungary. His two attempts failed, however, as he was determined to avoid bloodshed at all costs.

Charles was sent into his final exile on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Refusing to abdicate what he considered his God-given duty, he lived in poverty with his family in a damp house, where he fell mortally ill. He accepted his sickness as a sacrifice for the peace and unity of his peoples. Charles died on April 1, 1922, with his eyes fixed on the Blessed Sacrament. The motto of his life, which he recalled on his deathbed, was: "All my commitment is always, in all things, to know as clearly as possible and follow God's will... in the most perfect way."

This beautiful ship is the Santa Maria de Colombo, a full-scale replica of Christopher Columbus's famous flagship. The vessel was built right here in Madeira by a Dutch native, Rob Wijntje, and a team of local craftsmen in the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos. Construction began in July 1997, and the impressive 22-meter-long ship is built entirely of mahogany.

The replica was created to celebrate the great Age of Discovery and Christopher Columbus's own historical ties to the Madeira Islands, where he lived before his famous voyage. The original Santa María was the largest of the three ships, along with the Niña and the Pinta, that Columbus led on his first transatlantic voyage in 1492, forever changing the course of history.