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
Airways
(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 Accommodation in Madeira
Pousadas
Villas
& Self-catering
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 was
born on the island of Madeira.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22C and 26C.
Get more weather information for Portugal
Madeira
|
