The
Madeiras archipelago consist of
two inhabited islands, Madeira
and Porto Santo, and two uninhabited
island groups, the Desertas and
the Selvagens. The
Madeiras have lush tropical and
semi-tropical
plant life and extensive gardens,
and are famous for their mild,
pleasant climate becoming a popular
health resort in recent years.
Madeira Island features a mountainous
topography, with the region’s
capital and largest city of Funchal
located on Madeira Island. The
Laurisilva Park forms the largest
area of preserved laurel forest
in the world and was designated
a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in
1999. Two thirds of the island
is a protected area offering unique
landscapes. The sea is a staple
of the Madeiran kitchen with delicious
sea fruits, juicy tuna and the
island specialty, the black sword-
fish (espada).
The British colony which settled
on Madeira some centuries ago has
had a lasting influence on the
economy of the island. The
famous Madeira wines still carry
the names
of some distinguished families
of English origin on their labels.
The importance of Madeira wine
to the local economy surpassed
that of sugar beginning in the
late 17th century.
Porto Santo, 42 km (26 mi) north-east
of Madeira Island, had an estimated
population of 5,000 in the mid-1990s.
Its relative isolation permits
the island to keep some of the
old traditions of the first settlers.
Amazingly different from the island
of Madeira, there is almost no
vegetation at all and its southern
coast is bordered by a 9 kilometers
of golden beach. Its knowledgeable
visitors have called it a paradise
not to be missed.
Porto Santo is only 14 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. Almost 80% of
the island's population lives in its capital Vila Baleira and the airport is
only 5 minutes by car. The hotels offer a series of leisure activities such
as tennis, mini-golf, windsurfing and island-tours. There is also a recommended
campground near the beach. Christopher Columbus came to Porto Santo in 1478,
just to buy sugar. He married Felipa Moniz Perestrelo the governor's daughter
and Columbus’ house stands today just behind the local church.
The Selvagens, three small islands
and many tiny islets, are situated
a couple of hundred kms to the
south and are a natural bird reserve
designated for scientific study.
The islands of Desertas consisting
of three islands; Deserta Grande,
Chão and Búgio, are
strictly a nature reserve.
THE CAPITAL
As an autonomous region of Portugal, the Madeiras have their legislature which
rules from the capital of Funchal. Its landscape is known for its natural
amphitheatres overlooking the bay. During the sixteenth century Funchal was
an important sugar producing centre. Touring Funchal, one must observe the
beautiful sidewalks in patterns of marble from the mainland and lava from
the mountains. As a cosmopolitan city with a historical background, the observant
tourist will find the main cathedral, ornate churches and fortifications
still in their original splendour. Funchal also possesses a tropical botanical
garden and the famous market, ‘Mercado dos Lavradores’, offering
a terrific range of tropical fruits and vegetables.
ACTIVITIES
All types of water sports are possible including water skiing, snorkeling,
sailing and high sea fishing. Favourable winds make the Madeiras an ideal
location for windsurfing. The steep ravines of the Islands provide many opportunities
for canoeing.
The British introduced golf into
Madeira and in 1937 they built
their first nine-hole course. The
Madeira Islands today are home
to 2 championship golf courses:
- The Sierra course in Santo
possesses 27 holes and is home
to the Madeira Island Open Championship.
- The Palheiro 18 hole course
is picturesque with views of
the bay of Funchal.
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