Enjoy walking in thte city center
Madeira - "The Pearl of the Atlantic" - Reveals some of the Island attributes....
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Friday, 24 June 2011
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
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Golf
“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,
, 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)
, 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)
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
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 18th 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
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
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)
Monday, 13 June 2011
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
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
"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
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
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
Friday, 3 June 2011
Thursday, 2 June 2011
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 "24th Tour of Madeira - Classic Rally”.
You may read more information on the following Link
You may read more information on the following Link
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
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