Madeira
Portugal City Travel Guide: Madeira
City Guide I Turismo I Arrival I Accommodation I Entertainment I Internet
Cafes
|
|
Reid's Palace Hotel, Funchal
|
|
Madeira
- Madeira archipeligo discovered in 1418.
- 1000 kilometres south south west of Lisbon.
- Area of 779 square km (301 square miles).
- Known as 'the island of wood'.
- Famous for its famous fortified wine 'Madeira' (malmsey).
- Island of great natural beauty.
- Famed for its varied fauna and flora.
- A long "English" connection.
- Population around 280,000.
Discovered by Portuguese explorers in the early
fifteenth century the archipeligo of Madeira lies in the mid-Atlantic
roughly between the Azores and the
Spanish Canary Islands. The island chain consists of two populated islands:
Madeira and Porto Santo and the uninhabited islets of Ilhas Desertas
and Ilhas Selvagens.
The lively capital of Funchal reflects much of Madeira's rich history.
The main black and white paved square Praça do Município is
flanked by many fine buildings including the eighteeenth century Câmara
Municipal (Town Hall) and the Museu de Arte Sacra (Museum
of Sacred Art) with a collection of Flemish art from the 15-16th centuries,
collected during the island's profitable sugar trade with mainland Europe.
Other places of interest in Funchal are the Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmer's
Market) - a bustling scene of exotic flowers, fresh fish and local vegetables,
the Jardim Botânico (Botanical Garden) on Caminho do Meio,
the Museum of Contemporary Art in São Tiago Fort, the 16th
century Sé (Cathedral), the Museu de Fotografia Vicentes at
43 Rua da Carreira Funchal (Tel. 225 050) with a fascinating collection
of old photographs of life on Madeira and the Quinta das Cruzes,
once owned by a rich wine shipping family and full of works of art and
priceless antiques.
Driving north or travelling on the cable car from Funchal is the hill
resort of Monte, which is often compared to Sintra on
account of its fine quintas (palaces), churches, gardens and scenic
hill-top location. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a favourite
destination along with the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte. It
is possible to return to Funchal on a unique form of transport - a wickerwork
sledge (carro de cesto) on wooden runners pushed by two carreiros,
or sledge drivers.
Tea at Reid's Hotel overlooking Funchal Bay is a step back in
history to savour the traditions of the British aristocracy, who flocked
to the island in the 19th century for its mild climate and stayed to
foster Madeira's cottage industries of cane furniture, embroidery (bordados)
and malmsey wine production.
The British are particularly associated with Madeira wines, which
were drunk throughout the old colonies as their taste improved with long
sea journeys. Names such as Blandy, Cossart and Gordon are synonymous
with the wine and it is possible to visit
the wine lodges of D'Oliveiras and Henriques & Henriques both
in Rua dos Ferreiros and the Adegas de Sao Francisco (Avenida Arriaga
28).
The island's workers, and the slaves from Africa who came before, them
have constructed an intricate network of stone-walled poios (terraces),
fed by levadas (irrigation channels) out of the mountainous terrain
of the island's interior to produce the vines, flowers and vegetables
that make the island so richly attractive to visitors today. Head into
the mountains from the villages of Ribeira Brava or Sao Vicente to
see some of the incredible sheer drops.
Madeira's highest point, often shrouded in mist, is Pico Ruivo with
an altitude of 1,861 m (6,000ft) and is a hiker's favourite along with
trails from Boca da Encumeada and Parque das Queimadas.
The more remote northern side of the island has some interesting
villages including Porto Moniz to the west and Santana to
the east - famous for its pictureque thatched cottages.
A wide variety of leisure activities are available on the island
including 45 holes of golf at Madeira's two courses: Santo da Serra
Golf Club and Palheiro Golf Club as well as a casino, sailing, fishing,
diving, walking and bird-watching.
Images of Madeira
|
|
Cabo Girao © m3
|
|
Madeira Tourist Offices
Posto de Turismo do Funchal
Avenida Arriaga, 18
9000 Funchal
Tel: 236 161
Getting to + around Madeira
There are flights to Funchal from Lisbon, Porto, Faro and the
Azores in Portugal and many cities in mainland Europe (from
Amsterdam with KLM,
Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris) including
scheduled, charter and no-frills, budget flights.
British Airwaysg(17066602)a(1492103)) (BA)
and TAP Air Portugal fly the 3-hour flight from London. The airport
(tel. 291 520 700) is 16 km east of Funchal in Santa Cruz,
around 20 minutes by car or taxi.
It is possible to drive around the island and through the interior
using a hire car or taxi.
There are fairly frequent municipal buses in Funchal and less frequent
services to the outlying villages including services to Ribeiro
Frio, Machico, Faial, Sao Vicente etc.
Featured Hotel
Reid's Palace Hotel Madeira
Estrada Monumental 139
Funchal, Madeira
9000-098
An historical, world famous legend of luxury first opened for British
aristocrats in 1891. Breathtaking views and beautiful sub-tropical gardens.
5 stars.
Book
this hotel
Book Hotel Accommodation in Madeira
Hotels
in Portugal - Bookings
Hotels
in Portugal - HotelsPortugal
Hotels
in Portugal - Almeida Hotels
Hostels
in Portugal - Hostelworld.com
Hotels
in Portugal - Accommodation Online
Hotels
in Portugal - Agoda
Funchal has a good variety of both local and international
restaurants with seafood often a specialty.
Funchal has a good variety of bars which tend to get lively
at the weekends. Cafe Teatro (next to Municipal Theatre)
is well-known.
List your restaurant/bar/hotel contact Advertising
Internet Cafe
Insularmatica Cyber Cafe
C.C.Anadia, Shop 38-40
Funchal - Madeira
Email: anadia[at]insularmatica[dot]pt
Telephone: 291233770
From 10 AM to 10 PM everyday
20 computers, colour and mono printer, card-reader, wireless internet
for notebook
List your Internet Cafe for FREE - contact Advertising
Porto Santo
The island of Porto Santo (14 km by 5 km) reached by plane
or ferry from Madeira is in stark contrast to its mountainous
and lush neighbour 50 km to the south west. The island
has little natural vegetation but does have in abundance
the golden sandy beaches which Madeira lacks - a 9km long
stretch to be precise on the south of the island. The capital Vila
Baleira has a museum celebrating Christopher Colombus,
who came to the island in 1478 and later married Felipa
Moniz Perestrelo, the governor's daughter. There is a scenic
look-out point at Portela but the island's main
attractions are its tranquility and crystal clear waters.
Ilhas Desertas
16 km south east of Madeira are the uninhabited islands
of Deserta Grande and Bugio which are now
a nature reserve for the islands' birds, seals and poisonous
spiders. Boats trips to visit the islands can be made in
Funchal. 215 km (135 miles) south of Madeira are yet more
deserted islands - the Ilhas Selvagens (Savage Islands)
which remain a nature reserve of interest to scientists
for their colonies of marine birds.
 Local
football teams
Club Sport Marítimo Funchal
Founded 1910.
Stadium name: Estádio dos Barreiros capacity 8,900.
Marítimo are a fairly solid member of the Portuguese
First Division and the team in red and green stripes have
reached the heady heights of playing in European competition.
CD Nacional Madeira
Founded 1910.
Stadium name: Estádio Eng. Rui Alves capacity 3,000
Nacional were promoted to Portugal's First Division in
2002 and the team in black and white stripes have maintained
their status since then and appeared in European competition.
Christiano Ronaldo, presently playing with Manchester
United, though flirting with Real Madrid, was born on the island of Madeira.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
Get more weather information for Portugal
|
