Belonging to Portugal, the Madeira Archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean and consists of two inhabited islands: Madeira and Porto Santo and three smaller, uninhabited islands, the Desertas Islands. Already known in Roman times, they are one of the favorite tourist destinations for Europeans, thanks to their fantastic climate and natural beauty. Madeira Island is known by the nickname of "Island of Flowers", due to the large extensions of flora that adorn its landscape, creating almost the effect of a jungle in the middle of the ocean. A sinuous orography full of steep peaks and cliffs, but that in urban areas treasures important buildings and monumental heritage.
Curiosities
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- The entire archipelago of Madeira is of volcanic origin
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- The islands were officially discovered in 1418 by Joao Gonçalbes Zarcos.
- The islands were officially discovered in 1418 by Joao Gonçalbes Zarcos.
- Cristopher Columbus met his wife, Filipa Moniz, in Porto Santo.
- Some illustrious personalities who visited Madeira were the Empress Sissi, Emperor Charles I of Austria and Winston Churchill.
- The Laurissilva forests of Madeira are a natural site declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- It is one of the safest destinations in the world, as it has hardly any crime rate. About 20% of the insects are endemic to Madeira Island.
Madeira Island
It is the largest island of the archipelago but still only 35 miles long and 13 miles wide. However, its small size should not make you think that there is little to see or do on the island, quite the contrary. Its capital is Funchal and is a wonderful city in constant ferment and observed from above offers a beautiful picture of red tile roofs. Don't miss its Cathedral or Sé; built in the 15th century, it was the undisputed witness of Madeira's golden age, during the sugar cane era. It was the first great religious building built by the Portuguese outside Portugal. Visit the Jardim Botânico to fall in love with a spectacular scenery of color and aroma. The Madeira Story Centre is an interesting museum, which is a must if you want to learn about the formation of the archipelago and its history from 14 million years ago to the present day. Other very important museums are the Museum of Sacred Art and the Quinta das Cruces Museum. Madeira is a lush and green island, with some parks and gardens worth visiting, such as the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, located near the village of Monte, which you can reach from Funchal by cable car. Monte is so beautiful, it is nicknamed the "Sintra of Madeira", due to its great beauty and number of historic buildings.
The Island of Porto Santo
Even smaller than the island of Madeira, Porto Santo deserves special consideration, as it is a jewel of the Portuguese nation. It has an impressive 7 km long beach with fine, white sand, bathed by clean, turquoise waters; it is even recommended as beneficial for health, due to its composition based on the remains of marine animals in combination with the waters of the sea. Other interesting places in Porto Santo are: The Christopher Columbus House-Museum, the Quinta da Palmeira and the viewpoints of Portela and Pico das Flores. The island is also the perfect place for golf lovers.
The weather in Madeira
Due to its geographical location and mountainous topography, temperatures are mild and pleasant practically all year round. A subtropical oceanic climate that offers very favorable conditions, with scarce rainfall and an average annual temperature above 20ºC. The prevailing winds are the Trade Winds, which bring humidity and swell, especially during the morning. As for the water temperature, the Gulf Stream is responsible for softening it, being about 26 º C in summer and 17 º C in winter. Summer is usually the high season in Madeira, but it is certainly a destination that is great for any time of year.
How to get there
Since we are talking about islands, the option of arriving by land is ruled out. To get by plane to Madeira, you should always do it via Lisbon on a charter or scheduled flight. Some companies that fly to Madeira are Sata, Portugalia and Iberia. Both Madeira and Porto Santo Island have airports. If you want to arrive by boat, there are only regular ferry services between Funchal and Vila Baleira and also from the Canary Islands. However, there are many cruise ships that make a stop in Madeira. Once in the destination we recommend you to rent a car, because although there are bus and cab services, a car will give you the necessary freedom to explore Madeira and explore its corners. Madeira awaits you!
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