João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira who discovered Porto Santo island in 1418 while serving the Infante D. Henrique (Prince Henry) of mainland Portugal after being diverted by a storm and Madeira Island in July 1419. They first disembarked in Machico.

• December 1418 First voyage to Porto Santo Island.

• Early 1419 Second voyage to Porto Santo Island.

• July 1419 First voyage to Madeira Island.

• May 1420 Second voyage to Madeira Island.

The Portuguese knew of the Madeira archipelago as early as the 14th century, their settlement was ordered after 1418 by the Infante D. Henrique or Prince Henry the brilliant instigator of Portugal's maritime discoveries.

Cristofõm Colon (Christopher Columbus) called at Madeira and Porto Santo several times and here he married the daughter of Bartolomeu Perestrello, Porto Santo's first hereditary governor. Read on...