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Madeira
The pearl of the Atlantic, the floating garden, the island of perennial spring... few other islands can have inspired more poetic names than Madeira.
Madeira has a long tradition of playing host to discerning visitors. As early as the mid nineteenth century, the noble and the wealthy from Britain and northern Europe would flee winters and enjoy the life of luxury in the grand hotels and manor houses of Funchal. As a result, some of Europes finest hotels can be found on the island, together with a wide selection of excellent restaurants. Britains links with Madeira go back even further though, as merchants flocked to the island as early as the fifteenth century, when it supplied virtually all the sugar consumed in Europe, which was often traded in exchange for Flemish paintings.
One legacy the British left on Madeira is a passion for gardening, and everywhere on the island you can find dazzling displays of colour, from tiny front gardens to the spectacular botanical parks. Madeiras impressive mountains, which soar to a height of 1,861 metres, are merely the summit of a giant, extinct volcano rising from a base some four kilometres below sea level. Madeiras location off the coast of Morocco - roughly on the same latitude as Casablanca, but surrounded by the plummeting depths of the Atlantic Ocean - does give the island a surprisingly balanced climate, with mild temperatures all year round.
N
Atlantic
Ocean
Serra de Camacha Dentro
Porto Santo
Vila Baleira Porto Moniz Santa Achadas da Cruz Seixal Ribeira Ponta do da Vaca 1320 Pargo 1640 Ramal Ruivo do Paul Faja da Ovelha e r ra Paul do Paul da S Mar Calheta
Ponto do Sol Ponta da Calheta
At a glance
Visit... the botanical gardens of Funchal displaying worldwide plants & the native dragon trees " the triangular houses of Santana. the Mercado dos Lavradores - a covered market with flowers, basket weavers, farmers & fishermen " Calheta, the surviving sugar cane production centre Drink... the wines of Madeira: Sercial,Verdelho, Bual & Malmsey Play Golf... on one of the 45 championship holes divided between two courses, both remarkable for their beauty.The island plays host to the PGA European tour in spring, when the Madeira Open takes place at Santo da Serra Golf Club. Festivals... Madeira Flower Festival in Funchal in April, with a procession of floats filled with fragrant blooms " Festival of St Peter in Ribeira Brava in June, with bonfires and parades celebrating the patron saint of fishermen " Funchal Jazz Festival in July, a world class festival in the Quinta Magnolia gardens " The Feast of Senhora do Monte in Funchal in August, a testament of gratitude to their patron saint who, according to popular belief, interceded when hunger and plaque threatened the island " The Columbus Festival in Vila Baleira in Porto Santo in September, with music, drama, exhibitions and parades recalling the age of the Portuguese discoveries " Madeira Wine Festival in September celebrating the islands long and proud history in wine-producing
Sao Vicente
Ros
1725 Casado 1657 Pico Grande
Sao Jorge
Santana
Ilha
1818 Pico Arieiro
Faial Porto da Cruz Santo da Serra Canical
Baia de Abra
Curral das Freiras Poiso Pass Ribeira Monte Camacha
Machico Santa Cruz
Brava
Camara de Lobos
Palheiro Canico Canico Funchal de Baixo
Madeira
MADEIRA
5 km
© TUI 2005
Climate
Madeira Apr 19
Average daily maximum temperature (ºC) May 21 Jun 22 Jul 24 Aug 24 Sept 24 Oct 23
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