The caniçal is a district of the municipality of Machico, which is located in the archipelago of Madeira. The caniçal is 20 km from the municipality of Santana and Funchal, the main city and seaport of the island of Madeira.

The approximate date of the founding of Caniçal – 1561. There are other data on which the caniçal began to settle in 1489 and during that same time were built the first farm. The caniçal – the oldest district of the island of Madeira. This small town is located in the Eastern part of the island, until 1982 the caniçal was the center of the whaling industry.

On campus is the chapel of St. Sebastian, which was built in the early sixteenth century and is the parish Church. The chapel was built on the site of the old Church, which was destroyed by pirates. In 1748 the chapel was destroyed during the earthquake, but then restored.

The third Sunday of September in Caniçal, which still is a bustling seaport, takes place the celebration in honor of the virgin of Mercy - Festa de Nossa Senhora da Piedade. On this day, the decorated boats go to sea, between the fishermen held a competition to see who will take the figure of the virgin. The chosen boat will anchor at the pier, the fishermen climb to the top of the hill where the chapel built in honour of the virgin, and her image are out in the boat. The next day, the image of the virgin returns to the place.

Because of caniçal was formerly the capital of the whaling industry, tourists enjoy visiting the local whale Museum of Madeira, which is located in the office of the former whaling company. In the Museum you can watch a short film about whales and learn about them. As there is a beautiful small sandy beach of Prainha, the hallmark of which is the color of the sand is black.