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MADEIRA, THE ISLAND OF WONDERS!
Discovered in 1419 by Portuguese navigators, located in the Atlantic Ocean, 90 minutes from the Portuguese Capital, lies an oasis of luxurious vegetation, speckled with multicoloured flowers: The Island of Madeira.
In the subtropical climate of this small, Portuguese speaking paradise you will find people who are friendly and welcoming. A world of relaxation and leisure awaits you. From the famous Madeira wine to the equally famous food, from the traditional festivals to the natural beauty and crystal clear, warm waters of the ocean, the appeal of this island is never ending.
Visitors to Madeira will certainly find the peace and rest they are looking for, but a holiday here could quite easily coincide with one of the many traditional festivals which take place throughout the year.
Starting in February, there is the fun of the Carnival parades which are soon followed by the unforgettable Flower Festival. Then the whole month of June is dedicated to the Festival of the Atlantic.
At the end of summer, in September, the Wine and Grape Picking Festival celebrates the harvesting of the vines which will produce the "nectar of the Gods".
At the beginning of December, the city "dresses up" and the streets fill with multicoloured lights and non-stop entertainment. All the fun of Christmas for everyone to see.
These festivities culminate with the New Year celebrations. New year's eve is perhaps the biggest party of the year in which the dazzling firework displays and the sounding of horns by the cruisers full of tourists brings even more colour to the already spectacular Funchal bay amphitheatre.
Visitors to Funchal will find a clean and pleasant city with parks and gardens brimming with flowers, plants and trees which are native to the island. There are numerous museums and monuments for the visitor who would like to know a little more of the history of these "Noble People".
In the old part of the town you can take the cable car to the top of the mountain and then ride down in a traditional basket kart. When night time comes it is easy to find the ideal restaurant to sample the excellent food on offer in Madeira while listening to local music or even Fado (the most traditional Portuguese music).
When you feel like a shopping trip, down town Funchal is quite simply an open-air shopping centre where you can find all that you need. A visit to the Farmers' Market is also a must where there is an enormous variety of flowers and tropical fruit on display. At this market, you'll also find the characteristic black scabbardfish of Madeira.
You can also take a closer look at the rich hand embroidery on offer by paying a visit to one of the many factory showrooms open to the public. Another visit not to be neglected is a trip to the wine cellars to taste the famous Madeira wine, accompanied by a slice of Honey Cake.
On the south coast of the Island you will find the most picturesque fishing village on Madeira, Câmara de Lobos. Immediately afterwards, go up to Cape Girão - the highest cape in Europe and the second highest in the world. The view is unparalleled. At 1,400m, Paul da Serra is the largest plateau on the island and at Rabaçal you will find "Laurissilva", native to Madeira, at the heart of a forest recognized by UNESCO as Natural World Heritage. Arrive at Porto Moniz before lunch and you'll have time for a swim in the natural rock pools carved into the lava.
Following the north coast of the island, you'll see the waterfalls, some of which fall directly onto the road providing a cooling spray to all those who pass. The traditional houses of Santana in the north of the island should not be missed either.
The Arieiro Peak, the second highest point on Madeira - 1810m - is where you can begin a walk to Ruivo Peak - 1861m - a seat at the top of the world. When visiting this mountain, don't forget to take a ride in a traditional basket kart and visit the Church of Our Lady of the Mountain - Padroeira da Madeira. From here you can also visit the beautiful gardens and enjoy the panoramic view over Funchal.
In Camacha you will find craftsmen making all sorts of wicker products, from items of furniture to the smallest decorations. Nearby is the Santo da Serra where you can enjoy a round of golf or simply have a drink in the clubhouse which offers yet another stunning view, this time of Ponta de São Lourenço and the city of Machico where in 1419 the Portuguese navigators landed, led by João Gonçalves Zarco.
To complete your tour of the island, you should visit Eira do Serrado and observe from a height of more than 1000m, Curral das Freiras, a small hamlet lying at the bottom of the crater of a volcano which became extinct millions of years ago.
- Golf (2 golf courses of 18 and 27 holes)
- Horse riding
- Climbing
- Walks
- Diving
- Fishing
- Boat Trips
- Helicopter Trips
- Excursions by Coach
- Safari
- Water Sports - Windsurfing, sailing, canoeing
- Squash
- Tennis
- Hunting
- Maximum temperature during summer: 25.4º ( Funchal )
- Minimum temperature during winter: 18.9º ( Funchal )
- Highest temperature ever recorded: 36.4º ( Funchal ) - Wind speed: 7.5 Km / h. in Funchal
- Windiest month in Funchal: July
- Rainy days per year in Funchal (on average): 90 days
- Relative humidity: 70% (Funchal)
- 900 Kms. from Lisbon - 90 minute flight
-1300 Kms from the Azores - 120 minute flight
- 680 Kms from the Canaries - 60 minute flight
For more information on Madeira, visit this website:
www.madeiratourism.org
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