Home - Madeira
Eden of the Atlantic...
Madeira is famed for its beautiful environment, ancient subtropical forests and spectacular scenery...
T
he islands of Madeira are located in the midst of the north Atlantic ocean and is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (the other being the Azores). The mariners who discovered the island in 1419 were led by João Goncalves Zarco and Vaz Teixeira in the service of Dom Henriques, King Henry the Navigator, Portugal's great patron of exploration.
The discovery of the archipelago seems to have been completely accidental. Blown off-course by a powerful Atlantic storm the sailors caught sight of what appeared to be a dark cloud sitting on the surface of the sea. Desperately praying for land, the mariners sailed into a breathtakingly beautiful bay and high green mountain and in their gratitude bestowed it with the name Porto Santo (Holy Harbour).
Porto Santo is the northernmost and easternmost island of the archipelago, further exploration revealing the larger island of Madeira. Dense, laurel-leaved, evergreen trees cover the island, a relic of ancient Pliocene subtropical forests that is only found on a few islands of the Atlantic. These trees, towering upto 40 metres in height gave the island its name (Madeira means wood in Portuguese).
Upon hearing of this, Dom Henriques began to organise the cultivation and colonisation of the island, shipping in high quality vines, sugar cane, wheat and barley grains and the finest cattle. Settlers came from the Algarve to create farms on the island, its claimed that the settlers chose the names Adam and Eve for the first boy and girl to be born in Madeira.
Map of Madeira
To do in Madeira
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Walking
Walking
Walking the levadas.
Photo credits: Sebastião da Fonseca -
Funchal Market
Funchal Market
Mercado dos Lavradores in Madeira.
Photo credits: Christian Wernicke
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Restaurants
Restaurants
Eating out in Madeira.
Photo credits: Fajã dos Padres -
Wine Lodges
Madeira Wineries
The famous wines of Madeira.
Credits: Henriques & Henriques
Related Reading for Madeira
DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide: Madeira
Features some of the best attractions Madeira has to offer. This book features Top 10 lists including; the Top 10 things to do on Porto Santo, the Top 10 restaurants in Madeira, the Top 10 places to stay, and more.
By Christopher Catling
Rough Guide Directions Madeira & Porto Santo
Highlights the best Madeira has on offer from wild mountains to precipitous valleys and the beautiful walks on which to adsorb it. This guide provides information on the regions top attractions.