Madeira

The Islands of Madeira are situated about 640 kilometres southwest of Lisbon, Portugal. This group of four islands is one of two autonomous Portuguese regions, meaning they have their own governments and are independent from the Portuguese main land.  The other autonomous group of islands are the Azores.

There are four islands in this group, namely Madeira, Porto Santo, Desertas and Selvagem.  Madeira is the main island and most of the civilisation and activity takes place here. The other three islands should not be disregarded as it features its own unique heritage and attractions.

Attractions

On the island of Porto Santo, you will find the museum of Christopher Columbus, the famous explorer.  This museum used to be his house, but now display a collection of navigational maps and exploring equipment.

A church dating back to the 15^th century, the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows is situated on this island and is known for the aquamarine medallion embedded into the white facade of the baroque style building.

The island of Desertas is uninhabited and is a nature reserve.  The island is of volcanic origin and no source of fresh water is available.  The only possible tourist attraction is the natural and indigenous plant growth, only through special authorisation.

The island of Selvagem is mainly uninhabited.  It is known for the beautiful untouched fauna and flora and is only manned by a few sentries to guard the island.  They are relieved every two weeks.

The island Madeira is the largest of the four islands and is a popular tourist destination.  It is known for its beautiful beachfronts and resorts which are surrounded by mountains and cliffs.  A famous attraction is the New Years’ celebrations with the largest display of fireworks in the world.  This celebration was noted in the Guinness Book of Records in 2006.

Madeira is host to a wealth of villages, all contributing to the heritage and atmosphere of the Madeira Islands.  Along with the quaint villages, you will find yourself in breathtaking natural scenery and formations from volcanic activity.

Many of the villages are formed around the volcanic formations and the peaks of the mountains are used as viewpoints over the magnificent islands and gorgeous sea.

One such village is Curral das Freiras, a village in Central Madeira that lies in a valley and surrounded by extinct volcanoes.  The village of Serra de Argua is located in the interior of the island and you need to cross a canyon to get to it.  Hiking to the village you will pass waterfalls and cliffs and experience the mountain life.

Fuchal is the capital of Madeira and has a very busy City Square. The square is paved with tiles made from volcanic rock.  It offers many tourist attractions like the City Hall which dates from the 18^th century.  You will also find historic churches and museums in Fuchal, such as the 15^th century Cathedral, the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens and the Botanical Gardens.

Many of the towns are built around historic buildings dating from the 15^th century.  There are too many to mention here, but each town offers a piece of their history and is an attraction in own right.

Activities

With the perfect island weather, golf is a favourite activity.  There are two internationally recognised golf courses on Madeira with great greens and offering spectacular views.

One cannot visit the Islands of Madeira and not do some sunbathing on the gorgeous beaches and swim in the Mediterranean Sea.  For family fun, visit Santa Cruz for the Aqua Park with its water slides and cobbling river.

Other activities include water sports and activities, such as surfing, sailing, scuba diving and whale watching.  Or enjoy the beautiful nature scenes and volcanoes by doing trekking or signing up with a hiking group.

Regardless your preference, the Madeira Islands will not disappoint and will hold true to its reputation of being one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world.