the POSH Guide

the best of travel destinations and gear

Abandoned Olympic Pool Complex

Madeira Architecture

Given my penchant for ancient ruins, it's no surprise that I'm also fascinated by more modern abandoned places. Near the top of the hill that separates Machico from the airport, in the town of Agua de Pena, there's an abandoned swimming pool complex with an Olympic sized pool complete with diving towers. It was the towers that drew my attention to the place.

Since I'm staying in Machico this time, I decided to check it out. They've done very little to keep people out, so it's easy to get into the buildings and pool area. The huge pool even had an underwater viewing area at the deep end that looks like it might have been a restaurant or food court. I couldn't find any useful history of the place, so I don't know when it was built or when it was abandoned. There's a relatively new municipal pool in Machico, so I suspect that was part of the reason this place fell out of favor.

View from in front of the changing rooms looking towards the high dive towers.
View from above the changing rooms looking towards the high dive towers.
View of the pool with the ladders up the high dive towers in the foreground.
View of the pool with the ladders up the high dive towers in the foreground.

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