Funchal

“Funchal means “fennel” and the city`s name is said to derive from the abundance of fennel plants that Zarco, the island`s discoverer, found growing here when he arrived in 1420. Zarco chose this spot to found the future capital because of its sheltered natural harbour, which today is filled with every kind of vessel, from rusty container ships to luxurious cruise liners.” (pg. 31)

“Essential Madeira” (2001), Hampshire: AA Publishing

Golf

Santo da Serra Golf Course

Porto Santo Golf Course

“The golf in Madeira comes from the year 1937, when the British families Miles, Leacock and Blandy built the first 9-hole golf course.” (pg. 59)

“Madeira – Porto Santo Guide”, Funchal: DRAC

“Madeira has two golf courses, both noted for their magnificent views and picturesque setting. The older one is the 27-hole, 6.015 t, Santo da Serra course set high on a plateau to the east of the island, venue fo the Madeira Open tournament (held every year in Spring time) which attracts many top international players.

The newer course is the 18-hole, 6.015 m, 

Palheiro Golf

, situated high above Funchal and carved out of the 324-hectare Quinta do Palheiro estate The views are enhanced by the surrounding woodland, much of it planted by the Blandy family since they acquired the estate in 1885.” (pg. 159)

“Travellers Madeira” (2001), Hampshire: AA Publishing

Google Maps:
Santo da Serra  -   Link
Palheiro Golf    -    Link
Porto Santo      -   Link

Santo da Serra

“Santo da Serra occupies a low plateau to the east of Madeira. It has its own microclimate and is often under cloud, rain or mist when nearby Funchal is dry and sunny. Despite this, wealthy city merchants began to build mansions here from the 18^th century and the area acquired a reputation as a healthy summer resort.

Today it is best known by sports-loving visitors as the location of a fine golf course with sea views from the fairways and ine plantations reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands.” (pg. 108 – 109)

“Travellers Madeira” (2001), Hampshire: AA Publishing

Google Maps Location:   Link

Jardim de Santa Catarina

“If you walk to central Funchal from the Hotel Zone on a regular basis you will soon get to know this public park on the hillside overlooking the harbour. A mini botanical garden, it contains a number of fine specimen trees planted in the late 1940s when the garden was converted frm a disused cemetery.

Fountains and aviaries dot the park as well as some industrial reics – a steamroller and a sugar-cane-mil, for example.” (Pg. 42 – 43)

“Travellers Madeira” (2001), Hampshire: AA Publishing


Google Maps Location:    Link

A Flower and The Mountain......

View of Pico Areeiro (1818mt.) and Pico Ruivo (1861 mt)

Google Maps Location:   Link

A Place and a Time of..........

Discovery

Adventure

Emotion

Enjoying a Unique Experience

What did the Media write about Madeira......

"The Madeira Island: The place to be for active tourists"

"Visitors of Madeira Island can enjoy hiking, admire the landscape, swim in the sea and also explore local cuisine that includes delicious fish as well as the famous Madeira wine."

To continue reading this article in "TourismReview.com":   Link

Madeira awards and Certifications.......

The quality of services offered by the Madeira tourism sector is frequently recognised, both byInternational Tour Operators and other organisations. Find out what prizes were awarded in the last three months:

You may continue reading it:   Link

Be Delighted..........

"Jardim Botânico"

“Nineteenth-century writers bestowed many fanciful names on Madeira to describe the island`s botanical wealth – “a floating greenhouse” and “God`s botanical garden” being among them. The first seeds were probably carried by oceanic currents from West Africa, or reached Madeira in bird droppings. Thriving in the island`s fertile volcanic soil, species evolved that are unique to the island . Early settlers may have destroyed many more plants as they slashed and burned the island`s dense vegetation. Zarco ordered the island`s woods to be set alight , and such was the ferocity of the resulting blaze that the explorers were driven to their ships, eventually being forced to put out to sea to escape the heat.” (pg. 35)

“Essential Madeira” (2001) Hampshire: AA Publishing

Madeira - What makes a visit surprising..........

Madeira - A Time of Discovery......

Old Town (Zona Velha) – Funchal

Funchal`s Zona Velha (Old Town), formerly the city`s slum, is now an area of quaint cobbled streets with craft shops occupying the low, one-roomed houses where at one time whole families slept, ate and played. The old fishing community has not been entirely eradicated, however, for there is still a working boatyard at the western end of the Zona Velha. At the eastern end, under the walls of the Fortaleza de São Tiago, there is a tinny black-pebble beach (the Praia da Barreirinha) where local people still come to bathe and eat grilled sardines sold by enterprising street vendors.” (pg. 26)

“Travellers Madeira” (2001), Hampshire: AA Publishing

Funchal.........

Far from being the provincial island backwater you might expect from its remote location, Madeira`s capital is a bustling city of 100.000 people (a third of the island`s population). Visitors from mainland Portugal frequently refer to Funchal as “little Lisbon” because of its elegant architecture, fashionable shops and lively cafés. Again like Lisbon, the city streets twist and tumble up and down the steep hillside that rises from the harbour.

Only in the city centre are the streets level, and here the main avenues and squares are elegantly paved with black and white stone forming mosaic work patterns based on heraldic flowers or arabesques. Flowering trees provide shade from the sun, while the heady scent of jasmine betrays the presence of one of Funchal`s many hidden patios and courtyard gardens.” (pg. 30)

“Travellers Madeira” (2001), Hampshire: AA Publishing

Madeira - Discover a Time for Yourself........

ATLANTIC FESTIVAL 2011

From 04th to 25th June 2011

The Atlantic Festival, an event that marks the beginning of the summer season in Madeira, will this year integrate a diverse set of initiatives spread throughout the month of June, most importantly the International Fireworks Competition in Madeira; the Madeira Music Festival; the Regional Arts Week; and the "24^th Tour of Madeira - Classic Rally”.


You may read more information on the following   Link

Atlantic Festival 2010 - June 19th

Madeira History

"About 20 million years ago: Madeira comes into being

As a consequence of intensive tectonic activity and volcanic eruptions under the sea, there is a piling-up of lava material in the Atlantic Ocean during the Mesozoic period (about 5-25 million years ago).

The seabed rises to as much as 400 m above its original level. Several million years later the final volcanos become extinct and plants and trees begin to grow on the fertile layer of lava.”  (pg. 31)

“AA . Baedeker  - Madeira” (2000) Automobile Association Developments Limited, Hampshire: AA Publishing

Madeira HD - Madeira Islands - Videos, Photos & Live Broadcasts

Link:        Madeira HD - Madeira Islands - Videos, Photos & Live Broadcasts

Madeira - Flora

“When João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira with their followers discovered Madeira in 1419, they found an island of steep and rough terrain, covered by thick forest – hence the island`s name (“Madeira” is Portuguese for “wood”).

It was not least the obvious intractability of the island`s terrain which caused the discoverers first of all to settle on the more easily accessible neighbouring island of Porto Santo and use the latter as a base from which to open up and explore the main island. It took several centuries to make the island suitable for cultivation, the most appropriate method for the early Portuguese settlers being to clear away the forests by burning.” (pg. 13-14)

“AA . Baedeker  - Madeira”  (2000) Automobile Association Developments Limited, Hampshire: AA Publishing

What the media said about Madeira....

The New York Times, on 19th May published an article about Madeira and the surf.


If you wish you may read it in the    Link

Madeira – “Famous People”

John Blandy (1783-1855)

“The Briton John Blandy was born in Dorchester in 1783 and came to Madeira for the first time in 1783 and came to Madeira for the first time in 1807 as quartermaster for the British garrison. He fell in love with the island and four years later, after leaving military service, he settled on the island for good. Blandy purchased the house at 8, Rua de São Francisco and founded a business dealing in Madeira wine. “Blandy`s Madeira Wine Company” became well-known all over Europe and had successful branches not just in England, but also in Lisbon and later on Gran Canaria.” (pg. 36)

“AA . Baedeker - Madeira” (2000) Automobile Association Developments Limited, Hampshire: AA Publishing