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FUNCHAL – SÃO VICENTE – RIBEIRA DA JANELA – FANAL – PAÚL DA SERRA – FUNCHAL (4 hours)

Leave Funchal and follow the highway that goes east in direction of Câmara de Lobos/Ribeira Brava. 15 minutes later you will reach the end of the highway and you should turn to São Vicente. Follow the road up to Encumeada and enjoy the sight of the beautiful valley of Ribeira Brava. In the crossing, you should turn to Encumeada, which is located 1,000 metres high. Arriving there, stop at the belvedere where you can sight the north and south hills of the mountain and the mountains ridge that cross the inland. From this point, go down through the road of the north hill, and enjoy the awesome landscape of São Vicente valley.

    Arriving at Vila de São Vicente, park the car and take a walk in this pleasant village-place. Again by car, go down into the seashore, and then turn left to Porto Moniz; enjoy the beauty of the north coast landscape, with abrupt hills covered of vegetation; continue to Seixal / Porto Moniz and enter in the regional road 104. This is one of the most beautiful and exciting roads in Madeira because it was excavated in the mountain hills, with the ocean just at your feet. It is now a one way road, but it used to be the only connection before the building of the tunnel; back then, the road had two ways and it was a real adventure to drive among so many cars.

Stop at véu da noiva belvedere, from where you can admire a small water spring that comes out of the mountain and runs directly to the sea, resembling a bride’s veil.

Continue in direction of Seixal and visit the recently built port in the village. Continue to Porto Moniz, and after passing a long tunnel, turn right toward Ribeira da Janela. Prepare yourself to a long road climbing the mountain, in which you will be able to see awesome sights of landscape and sea. Fanal is located a little above Ribeira da Janela, and it is a magnificent sanctuary of rare trees and centenary vineyards. Stop the car and walk through this spectacular nature.

Continue the going up until a central mountain mass called Paul da Serra, which offers a dazzling view. This mountain mass is the prove of the island’s diversity in what concerns to landscape, for this plateau with no vegetation recalls a lunar spot, completely different from the landscape that have been accompanying you during this trip.

Return to Funchal through Encumeada, and then follow the informative street signs.

FUNCHAL – MONTE - POISO – PICO DO AREEIRO – FUNCHAL (3 hours)

Go up Rua 31 de Janeiro, and when you arrive at light signals, placed after Santa Luzia Gardens, turn right in the direction of Monte. From here, it is a going up road until Pico do Arieiro (1,810 metres).

When you arrive at Monte, 314 metres high, stop and take a walk in this historical parish, which has several activities to offer:

 - Two aerial cable cars descending to Funchal or Jardim Botânico;

- Basket cars rides, allowing a vertiginous descending to Funchal in cars made of wicker, with capacity for two or three persons.

- Tropical Monte Palace Garden, with an area of 70,000 sq ms, has exuberant vegetation, which has been enriched with several species from all over the world. In this Garden, one may also observe a vast range of art pieces.

Continue the road up and stop at Poiso, where you can drink the famous poncha drink in “Casa de Abrigo do Poiso”; but you should not drink if you are driving because it is an alcoholic beverage.

After Poiso, turn right toward Pico do Areeiro, and be prepared to watch breathtaking landscape, not only because of its beauty but also by the abysms right beside the road due to the fact that this road was built in the mountain. Arriving at Areeiro belvedere, (1,810 ms), you can observe a distant path that leads to the mountains’ peak to Northwest. This path is of easy walking and will lead you to Pico Ruivo (1,862 ms) the highest point in the archipelago.

After enjoying this extraordinary nature, return through the same way to Funchal.

FUNCHAL – CAMACHA – SANTO DA SERRA – MACHICO – FUNCHAL (3 hours and half)

Take the highway in direction of Caniço and turn to Camacha. From here, the road goes up in the middle of a mountain, surrounded by the typical green of the island. Arriving at Camacha, take a deep breath of the mountain’s pure air and take a walk through this pleasant village where you will find regional products markets and good restaurants. The place is full of pines, oaks, chestnuts and cedar trees, along with other local exotic species. Camacha is famous by its folklore, and its local folklore group - Grupo Folclórico da Casa do Povo da Camacha – sings and dances in the local festivities in Santa Cruz Municipality.

Continue the road up to Santo da Serra and, once there, park the car in the central square, which is the border between Santa Cruz and Machico municipalities. It is a very popular parish in Madeira and people generally go there shop or just to enjoy a pleasant evening during weekends. Try Sidra, a typical drink of the village. Take a walk in the farm located nearby the square, where you can visit a small zoo. Another attraction of this village is the golf course.

Continue your trip toward Machico; when descending the mountain, admire the beautiful valley that flows into the Ocean. Arriving at Machico, park the car and take a pleasant walk along the seashore. This city is famous due to the quality of its restaurants and evening entertainment – good bares and “La Barca” disco.

Leave Machico in direction of Funchal by the highway, following the information signals.

FUNCHAL – RIBEIRA BRAVA – PONTA DO SOL – MADALENA DO MAR – CALHETA – JARDIM DO MAR – PAÚL DO MAR – PONTA DO PARGO – FUNCHAL (5 hours)

Leave Funchal in direction to Ribeira Brava, first by the highway and, at the end of it, by the road that goes down following the water course. At the crossroad, continue to Ribeira Brava until you take the seashore road. Once there, you can stop and take a walk along the seaside avenue or turn right to Ponta do Sol. This road was built near the ocean, in the base of high cliffs, and continues until Lugar de Baixo, which is the parish that receives more hours of sun in the archipelago. Continuing in the same road, you will find a cross where you should take the road to Ponta do Sol. Here, enjoy the walk along the seaside avenue before continuing to Calheta / Madalena do Mar. Arriving at the last one, before the tunnel that leads to Calheta, stop and walk along the promenade and, if the weather is good, take a bath in the Atlantic Ocean.  You can also taste delicious fresh fish in “Preia Mar” restaurant, nearby the promenade.

Continue to Calheta village, which is located in a valley surrounded by magnificent mountains and where you will find a white sand beach, whose sand was brought from Morocco. Visit the art collection at Centro das Artes Casa das Mudas, an awarded building of the architect Paulo David, built on a cliff over the sea.

Proceed to Jardim do Mar, a small village once considered one of the best spots to surf before the construction of the large promenade that hinder the gigantic waves that attracted so many tourists. Continue to Paul do Mar, a small fishing village-place surrounded by great mountains.

After Paul do Mar, the access to Fajã da Ovelha is the most winding path. Continue to Ponta do Pargo, a village called so because the first settler fished sea bream (pargo in Portuguese) when rounding it by sea. It is the most west point of the island, rocky, very highly placed, over the sea, where a lighthouse was built. Contrary to the rest of the island, the place is flat and with not so dense vegetation.

The itinerary is now complete. Return to Funchal by the same way.

The following are the places that you must visit while staying in the island:

Fajã dos Padres

Ads call it an island inside another island, and it is indeed a good way to describe this paradise on earth.

Fajãs are flat lower lands formed by the rocks that felt from the cliffs due to coastal erosion. Fajã dos Padres was formed by one of those phenomena. Only accessible by boat or by a panoramic lift, this fajã is a piece of land in the bottom of a cliff with 250 metres. Its microclimate is favourable to the growth of several species, as mango, avocado-pear, banana, grape, red cheery and passion fruit. A rocky beach follows the flat land from one side to the other, inviting to a bath in the clear crystal waters of the sea.

In the restaurant, open from 10:00 to 18:00, you can taste a delicious slightly salted wrasse, limpets or tuna fish. If you choose to spend the night in one of the tourist accommodation available, the only sounds you will hear during the night will be the sea waves, the birds and the wind, for there are no cars passing from 18:00 on. Cease the moment for this is a very special place.

To get here, take the highway Funchal – Ribeira Brava, and then take the exit to Cabo Girão/Quinta Grande. From this point on, follow the signals that indicate the access to Fajã dos Padres.

Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo

A walking trail connects the two highest peaks of the island: Pico Ruivo (1,861 ms) and Pico do Areeiro (1,817 ms). Depending on the route, the path is 5.6 to 7 Km, taking about 4 hours of walking. Although it requires some physical strength, the landscape is awesome and well worthy.

This is the only known place in the world where Freira da Madeira builds its nest (Pterodroma Madeira), an endemic bird species that is one of the most endangered in Europe. Birds as blackbird, finch and Madeira fire crest can be observed in the highest spots. Pico Ruivo is also inhabited by robin redbreast and partridge.

To reach Pico Ruivo, one must round Pico das Torres by climbing a staircase carved in the rock and then go up to Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo. Along the path, there are several caves inside the volcanic clusters, used as shelter to cattle and shepherds.

Pico Ruivo is covered by heath formations and zones of little vegetation, especially herbaceous and small bushes, with relative botanic interest.

Until several years ago, the cliffs were used as pastureland to cattle, goat and sheep breeding; however, this was forbidden to preserve nature, and the whole area around the peak is under a recuperation process, as it is the case of Freira-da-Madeira and the vegetal communities of altitude. The easiest way to reach Pico Ruivo is to go up along the road to Poiso, and once there turn left toward Pico do Areeiro.

Chão da Ribeira

Between São Vicente and the village of Seixal, turn left in direction to Chão da Ribeira (a signal indicates the path just before arriving Seixal), and go up along a steep road that offers magnificent views over the north coast. A few metres up, you will find on both sides of the road old straw lofts covered with moss, which were converted into homes, mostly for tourist accommodation.

Then, you arrive at the spectacular valley of Chão da Ribeira, surrounded by a rich variety of plants and bushes of Laurissilva forest. The bed of the stream is occupied with plantations and barns, an extremely bucolic scenario.

In this place, you can also enjoy an excellent meal at “Casa de Pasto Justiniano” restaurant, specially the famous espetada à madeirense (cubes of beef on laurel spit) or grilled trout.

The trout fish-ponds are located up the street, but be careful if you visit the place because it is guarded by dogs.

Eira do Serrado and Curral das Freiras

The belvedere of Eira do Serrado surprises its visitors with a unique scenario of colour and natural beauty. Located 1,095 metres high, you can sight a large recondite valley and the small village of Curral das Freiras.

The parish of Curral das Freiras is well worthy of a visit due to its location deep in the valley, surrounded by high mountains, being one of the most beautiful places in the island. It is so one of the most visited places by tourists that enjoy this rare beauty from the belvedere of Eira do Serrado.

Take the road to Santo António, in Funchal, and follow the signals that point the way to Eira do Serrado/Curral das Freiras.

Cabo Girão

Located west of Funchal, it is an almost vertical headland, with 580 metres, offering an awesome view over the sea, Câmara de Lobos and Funchal, reason why it is one of the places that attracts many tourists. It is the second highest cape in the world. To lean over the metallic handrail is a true adventure, not advisable to those who suffer from vertigo.

To get here, take the highway Funchal – Ribeira Brava and then take the exit to Cabo Girão.

From Ponta Delgada to Arco de São Jorge

A partir de São Vicente, no norte da ilha, vá na direcção de Ponta

Starting in São Vicente, in the north part of the island, take the road to Ponta Delgada and proceed to Boaventura. This road was excavated in the cliff, and in some parts only one car can pass; because the road has two ways, you must be prepared to back in some occasions. Nevertheless, the landscape is well worthy of the possible delays; some miles ahead, you will find the village Arco de São Jorge, surrounded by high cliffs, which allow just a few hours of sun during winter.

This is the most natural zone of the island. Highways, bridges and viaducts have not yet disturbed the landscape, which remains intact in its luxuriant vegetation, in its ocean blue, in its northern majestic mountains. 

Ponta de São Lourenço

Take the tunnel that connects Machico to Caniçal and prepare yourself to leave the green luxurious green that has accompanied you so far and enter into a desert arid place. Ponta de São Lourenço is located in the east extremity of the island, a place where mountain, sea and nature combine to give birth to a fabulous miracle of Mother Nature. Rocky formations take in here different tones and one can notice the difference from the smooth landscape of the south and the abrupt aggressive one of the north. Notice also the differences between the calm and clear southern waters when compared with the constant threatening north waves.

One can sight the north and south coasts of Madeira Island, as well as Porto Santo Island. 

In the way back, stop at Caniçal village, and taste a delightful meal in one of the several restaurants located in the port; try the delicious castanhetas, small but tasty fish.

Ribeiro Frio

Go up the regional road from Funchal to Monte; after passing Monte, follow to Poiso, where you will find a signal indicating the way to Ribeiro Frio. Located in the north hill of the mountain, already part of Santana Municipality, you can observe Laurissilva forest, which covers the magnificent mountains.

Pay a visit to the trout fish-ponds and taste one of these freshwater fish in the restaurant Ribeiro Frio or in the Snack Bar Faísca.

If you feel like taking a walk, you will find the path signalled until the belvedere of Balcões, along which you will have the opportunity to watch different species of birds. Balcões belvedere offer an awesome view over the slopes covered with Laurissilva forest, and it is also an excellent spot of bird watching. Again, you can watch birds like rock pigeon, ringdove, kestrel, finch, among others.

Ilhas Desertas

In Funchal yacht-harbour, several companies provide voyages to Desertas islands. The departure is in the morning, and the trip takes about 2 hours each way. 

Located 15 miles south of Madeira, these three islands of volcanic origin are called Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio. They are a natural reserve and habitat of sea wolves. The islands were property of two English families who lived in Madeira between the years of 1894 and 1971 (also owners of Ilhas Selvagens), and were later bought by the Portuguese Government and converted into a Natural Reserve.

They are inhabited only by its guards and the only construction existing is their home. Dive in the clear crystal waters, inhabited by a great quantity an variety of fish used to human visits, or go for a walk across the islands, a natural habitat of unique species, including a colony of 23 sea-wolves and a special mention to desert tarantulas, an endemic species. Its flora is also rich and diversified, and includes 33 endemic plants of Madeira Archipelago plus two exclusive species of Desertas Islands.

Santana

Santana is famous due to its typical thatched houses, in shape of an inverted “V”. This municipality still keeps ancestral genuine traditional usages in ethnography and folklore. By a royal decree of 4^th June 1552, Santana became an independent parish, then in 1835 village, and finally, on the 1^st of January 2001, it was elevated to the status of City.

One of the best and more pleasant ways to experience the natural beauty of Santana is to follow the fascinating walking trails, paths, gardens and roads, embellished by hydrangeas, and which drive us to places as Caldeirão Verde, Pico Ruivo and Pico do Areeiro, Ribeiro Frio, Parque das Queimadas, and many other spots of impressive beauty, as Achada do Teixeira, Homem em Pé, Pico das Pedras, Cova da Roda and Rocha do Navio.

Madeira was settled by people from different regions of the mainland, who carried with them their local traditions. Since the 15^th century, the Portuguese expansion period, Madeira received products from the new discovered territories, such as sugar, tropical fruit, vegetables, corn and potato, plantations easily adaptable to the island microclimate. It is in this fusion of national and exotic flavours that we find the tastes of local gastronomy.

Many soups are traditional here: wheat, tomato, onion with poached egg, or, in colder days, a bread crumbs based soup with garlic, olive oil and poached egg. In what concerns to fish meals, the most common are: tuna fish - steak, ragout with onions, grilled or with a special sauce called escabeche; and black swordfish - ragout with onions, accompanied with fried wheat, fillet with banana or passion fruit sauce. One should not forget to try also the tasty wrasse, grilled or fried, accompanied with boiled potatoes.

Grilled limpets with garlic and lemon are the indispensable appetizers for the fish course. Bolo do Caco or the traditional octopus and shrimp entrees stimulate your senses, as well as the small cubes of fried cow meat with garlic and chips.

In the meat course, try the meat stew of wine and garlic, but do not forget the famous espetada, accompanied with fried corn, boiled yam and homemade bread.

As Madeira has a sub tropical climate, fruit is deliciously tropical: mango, banana, custard apple, pineapple and passion fruit among others. If you prefer the sweets, cheesecake and fennel candies will satisfy your desires. The honey cake – Bolo de Mel – is the sweetest and the most popular sweet, made of rich and diversified ingredients as cane sugar and spices from India; it is believed that it is the result of an adaptation from the Christmas pudding, brought to the island by the tourists and English residents.

To help digest of all of these divine delicacies, drink a glass of Madeira Wine. If you are planning a festive evening, go to Câmara de Lobos and try nikita and poncha drinks, but be aware that this last drink has a high level of alcohol because it is prepared with cane sugar.

FUNCHAL

Museu de Arte Sacra do Funchal

Located in the centre of the city, the art sacra museum is formed by two fundamental nucleuses:

- Flemish Art, Painting, Sculpture and Goldsmith’s Art, since the end of the 15^th century until the first half of the 16^th century;

- Portuguese Art, Painting, Sculpture, Goldsmith’s Art and Vestments, since the beginning of the 16^th century until the middle of the 18^th century, Address – Rua do Bispo, 21 – 9000 – 073 Funchal

Telephone – 291 228900

E mail – masf@netmadeira.com

Web – www.museuartesacrafunchal.org

Closed on Mondays and Holidays

Museu da Quinta das Cruzes

This museum displays several collections of Decorative Arts, from the 16^th to the 19^th centuries, Furniture, mostly of Portuguese and English origins, Goldsmith’s Art, Painting, Sculpture and a Park of Archaeology. Besides, the museum is placed in one of the most beautiful manors of Madeira, with magnificent gardens, planted fields and a barn, the house, chapel, leisure pavilion, and a small kitchen-garden. It is a real way to visit the past.

Address – Calçada do Pico 1, 9000 – 206 Funchal

Telephone – 291 740670

E mail – mqc@netmadeira.com

Web – www.museuquintadascruzes.com

    Closed on Mondays and holidays

Madeira Toys Museum

The toy museum possesses around 17.000 toys, ranging from the end of 19th century to our days.  This includes a vast collection of cars, namely Dinky Toys and Corgi Toys.

Adress - Rua da Levada dos Barreiros nº48.

Telephone - 919 922 722

Timetable - Tuesday to Saturday from 10h to 20h

Sunday - from 12h to 18h

Closed on Mondays

Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas

This museum displays different types of collections related to the history of the island. Its main nucleuses are Engravings and Drawings, Ceramics, Sculpture and Furniture. The building where the museum is located is Palácio da Calçada, palace of Romantic architecture, dating from the 17^th century.

Address – Calçada de Santa Clara 7, 9000 – 036 Funchal

Telephone – 291 202570 / 291 202576

E mail –cmffreitas@sapo.pt

Web – www.culturede.com, www.rpmuseus-pt.org

Closed on Mondays, Sundays and Holidays

Museu de História Natural e Aquário Municipal

It is the oldest museum in activity in Madeira, and it keeps a collection of animals’ replicas and other biological and geological specimens.  At the present time, in its 6 halls, the museum has in exhibition 78 fish specimens, 247 birds, 14 earth and sea mammals, 152 insects and other invertebrate species, besides a collection of rocks and mineral from the archipelago. The Municipal Aquarium has 15 tanks of exhibition, filled with diversified sea species of the archipelago.

Address – Rua da Mouraria 31, 9004 – 546 Funchal

Telephone – 291 229761

E mail –mmf@cm-funchal.pt

Web – www.culturede.com, www.cm-funchal.pt

Closed on Mondays, and the following holidays: 1^st of January, Carnival Tuesday, Eastern Sunday, 25^th of April, 1^st of May, 21^st of August, and 25-26^th of December

Photografia – Museu “Vicentes”

This is the oldest photo studio of Portugal, founded by Vicente Gomes da Silva in 1848. It keeps remarkable photo records of significant events of the archipelago’s last 150 years of history, as the crossing of the Portuguese explorers Capelo and Ivens, the aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral, and the visit of famous personalities as Winston Churchill or George Bernard Shaw.

Besides the photo exhibition, the museum also displays scenarios, photo machines, technical supports and other devices, the result of more than 100 years of business.

Address – Rua da Carreira 43, 1º, 9000 – 042 Funchal

Telephone – 291 225050

E mail –photographia.vicentes.drac.srtc@gov-madeira.pt

Web – www.culturede.com, www.rpmuseus-pt.org

Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays

Madeira Wine Company – Adegas de São Francisco

This museum offers the visitors tasting wine rooms, warehouses, wine cellars, a store and an exhibition area that displays the history of Madeira Wine, since the vineyard to the transformation process. The group of buildings date from the 17^th and 18^th centuries, and it is an example of Baroque style. The wine stock is of approximately 700,000 litres in 650 barrels.

Address – Av. Arriaga 28 - 9000 – 064 Funchal

Telephone – 291 740110

E mail –dm@madeirawinecompany.com

Web – www.madeirawine.com

Timetable – Monday to Friday 09:30-18:30

Guided Visits Start at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30

Saturday – 10:30-13:00

Guided Visit at 11:00

Closed on Sundays and Holidays

Price – Guided Visits 4.20 € per person

Palácio de São Lourenço

This fortress dates back from 1513; since then, it has been remodelled and altered until its final form as the palace of Madeira governors in the 18^th century.

Presently, the military side and the civil side are divided; Command of the Military Zone of Madeira occupies the east wing and the left wing is used by the Republic Minister to the Madeira Autonomous Region as his official residence. The halls of the residence have a rich collection of furniture from the 17^th to the 19^th centuries and several royal portraits.

In the military wing, there is a historical museum of the building, presenting the history of the construction, enlargements and alterations done, besides the military history of Madeira Archipelago.

Address – Av. João Gonçalves Zarco 1 - 9001 – 902 Funchal

Telephone – 291 202530

E mail –gabrr.palacio@netmadeira.com

Web – www.ministrodarepublica-madeira.pt 

Timetable – Free Visits: Wednesday 10:00, Friday 15:00, Saturday 11:00

Guided Visits should be scheduled by appointment

Closed on Sundays, Holidays, Mondays and Saturday’s afternoon

Free Entrance

Núcleo Museológico a Cidade do Açúcar

The museum displays the pieces collected from the excavation of the houses of João Esmeraldo, a Flemish sugar producer and merchant. The collection includes pieces of Portuguese ceramics, vases, tobacco pipes, pots, bowls and coins, which give the possibility of understand how urban life was from the 15^th to 18^th centuries. The museum also displays exhibitions of Paintings, Sculptures and Pieces of Decorative Art, which witness the commercial affairs between Madeira and Europe during the 16^th century, mostly because of Madeira cane sugar production.

Address – Praça Colombo 5 - 9000 – 630 Funchal

Telephone – 291 236910

E mail –museu.acucar@cm-funchal.pt

Web – www.cm-funchal.pt

Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays

Núcleo Museológico do IVBAM

The Institute of Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft of Madeira displays some of the most remarkable pieces of embroidery and handicraft made in Madeira, as well as it registers its evolution throughout time. The museum keeps important collections of embroidery, wicker work, wood carvings and furniture, which recover the atmosphere of a Madeira home from the 19^th and 20^th, with a special focus to the beauty of the embroidery.  There is a hall that recovers the techniques and processes of creating the embroidery of Madeira.

The contemporary creations are also present in the exhibition, in order to demonstrate the present and future potential of this traditional embroidery.

Address – Rua do Anadia 44 - 9050 – 020 Funchal

Telephone – 291 223141

E mail –ivbam.sra@gov-madeira.pt

Web – www.bordadomadeira.pt

Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays

Museu da Electricidade Casa da Luz

This museum is located in the former Thermal Central of Funchal, closed in 1989 and transformed after into a museum.

The museum is divided in three themes:

 “Luzes do Funchal” that demonstrates and explains the evolution of lighting in Funchal - since oil and petrol lamps to electricity.

“Um Século de Electricidade” the history of the electrification process in the archipelago, presenting machinery and the thermal versus hydraulic main forms of producing electricity

 “Fontes de Energia” dedicated to aeolic and solar energies

Address – Rua da Casa da Luz 2 - 9050 – 029 Funchal

Telephone – 291 211480

E mail –mcl@eem.pt

Web – www.eem.pt

Closed on Monday, Sunday and Holidays

Madeira Story Center

Madeira Story Centre (MSC) is a museum that displays the history and culture of the island. The museum contents are organized in order to facilitate the access to the information since the volcanic origins to hydroplanes, since the discovery period until the present time.

In Madeira Story Centre, History is alive; in this museum, history combines with multimedia technology and gains interactivity. Madeira history is presented in historical phases, from which illustrious characters and visitors outstand.

Address – Rua D. Carlos I, 27 – 2, 9060 – 051 Funchal

Telephone – 291 000770

E mail –info@storycentre.com

Web – www.storycentre.com

Timetable – Everyday from 10:00 to 18:00, exception to December 25^th.

Museu Henrique e Francisco Franco

Created in 1987, this museum exhibits the collections of Henrique and Francisco Franco brothers, acquired by Funchal Municipality from 1966 to 1972 from their heirs. The paintings of Henrique and the sculptures of Francisco had a significant importance in the Lusitania Art in the 19^th and 20^th centuries; Henrique was influenced by Cézanne and Monet, and Francisco influenced by Amadeo and Modigliani.

Address – Rua João de Deus, 13 – 2, 9050 – 027 Funchal

Telephone – 291 230633

E mail –museu.franco@cm-funchal.pt

Web – www.cm-funchal.pt

Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays

Museu de Arte Contemporânea – Fortaleza de São Tiago

The construction of the building of São Tiago Fortress was started in 1614 in the sequence of the French pirates’ attack in 1572, but it was only concluded in 1637. Since then, the fortress was submitted to several alterations, particularly during the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th centuries. In 1992, it was the head quarters of Army Police, but was then transferred to the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The Regional Government decided to convert it into the Contemporary Art Museum, with an area dedicated to the military history of this fortress.

Address – Rua do Portão de São Tiago, 9060 – 250 Funchal

Telephone – 291 213340

E mail –mac.funchal@sapo.pt

Web – www.culturede.com

Closed on Sundays and Holidays

RIBEIRA BRAVA

Museu Etnográfico da Madeira

This museum keeps collections of ethnographic objects related with social, economical and cultural aspects of the archipelago.

Part of its treasures are displayed in permanent exhibition halls, organised according to the following themes: “Artisan Production“, “Agricultural Tools“, “Arts and Crafts“, “Transforming Activities“, “Equipment and Instruments of Fishing, Hunting and Cattle Breeding“, “Commerce“, “Cyclic Festivities”, “Music Instruments”, “Textile Technology“, “Transports, “House Appliances“, “Entertainment Activities”. Other collections are displayed from times to times in the hall of temporary exhibitions and in itinerant exhibitions.

Address – Rua São Francisco 24, 9350 – 211 Ribeira Brava

Telephone – 291 952598

E mail –museuetnografico@clix.pt

Closed on Mondays and Holidays

CALHETA

Casa das Mudas / Centro das Artes

Centro das Artes Casa das Mudas, in Calheta, is a space of synthesis between ancient and modern architecture. It was once a manor house from the 16^th century, and presently, it is a project of the local architect Paulo David, who has received international awards. Built in a cliff, the museum offers an awesome sea sight.

This museum has several exhibits, including areas for permanent and temporary exhibitions, an auditorium, library, bookstore, coffee shop, restaurant, hall for cultural events with workshops. Some of the events are temporary exhibitions of Contemporany Art, theatre and dance, cinema and ateliers with formation oriented to different audiences.

Address - Vale de Amores, 9370-111 Calheta
Telephone 291 820900

E-mail: casadasmudas@gmail.com

Timetable – Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00

Closed on Mondays

Free Entrance

Entrada Gratuita

PORTO MONIZ

Aquário da Madeira

Enter in the sea world and meet some of the wonderful sea creatures that live in the 11 thematic tanks, which try to represent the different habitats existing in Madeira Archipelago. You will be able to watch species as gilthead sea bream, red porgy, wrasse, angular rough shark, octopus, dam shellfish, grouper, and moray among others.

Address: Rua Forte S. João Batista, 9270-095 Porto Moniz

E mail - geral@aquariodamadeira.com

Web – www.aquariodamadeira.com

Telephone - 291850340

Open everyday from 10:00-18:00

Centro de Ciência Viva

Centro de Ciência Viva in Porto Moniz is a space dedicated to receive exhibits and other events related to scientific promotion. This centre is integrated in the national scientific network, created by Agência Nacional para a Cultura Científica e Tecnológica, and it occupies a large area where visitors from every age can enter in a unique experience that allies science and knowledge.

These science spaces follow the modern concept of museology that meet the needs of the public, especially the younger, and that has de goal of teach through interaction with objects and experiments.

The centre has also a Cyber zone, where visitors can access to internet. The visitor can also purchase specific products of merchandising related to Centro Ciência Viva do Porto Moniz, available at the store. 

Address – Rotunda do Ilhéu Mole, 9270 – 095 Porto Moniz

Telephone – 291 850300

Timetable – Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-19:00

Closed on Mondays

SÃO VICENTE

Velhos Encantos

This place was first conceived as a country house; while it was being built, the owners acquired several art collections in the local market and abroad for its decoration. As the collections gathered were considered valuable and of public interest, authorities decided to transform it into a museum, open to the public.

Address – Sítio do Tanque, 118 - 9240 – 118 São Vicente

Telephone – 291 862600 / 96 3966448

Closed on Sundays

SANTANA – ARCO DE SÃO JORGE

Museu do Vinho e da Vinha

This museum has the intention to be a lively and interactive place of activities. It occupies an area of 1 hectare, and it is formed by a building and an old recovered wine cellar; the population contributed with ancient relics used in the wine production, and they are now displayed in the cellar.

Besides the wine, wine presses and instruments used through decades to produce the wine, visitors can also witness the several phases of the vineyard, taste and purchase a great variety of table wine and liqueurs. The museum was created to pay honour to the vine-grower. The place also includes a store of sweets and traditions, where the visitor can buy homemade bread, cookies, honey cakes and wicker work.

Address – Sítio da Lagoa, 9230 – 018 Arco de São Jorge

Telephone – 291 578106

Closed on Mondays and Sundays

CANIÇAL

Museu da Baleia

Museu da Baleia is located in Caniçal village and testify the history of whaling and the related activities. In this museum, one can find photos, videos, instruments and models of the whaling boats, as well as the steps of the whaling transforming industry. Handicraft of whale bones and teeth are also displayed, as well as a detailed replica of the ancient whaling factory.

Address – Largo Manuel Alves, 9200 – 032 Caniçal

Telephone – 291 961407

E mail –geral@museudabaleia.org

Closed on Mondays, December 25-26th, January 1^st and Eastern Sunday

SANTA CRUZ

Casa da Cultura de Santa Cruz

This cultural centre was inaugurated in 1992. As a place devoted to cultural activities, it receives several events as exhibitions, conferences, painting and photo workshops, concerts, educational games, festivities, cinema cycles, theatre and dance. There is also room for new technologies and a hall with internet access. Besides these, visitors can enjoy the beautiful gardens and appreciate the magnificent coastal and sea sights.

Address - Quinta do Revoredo - Rua Bela de São José - 9100 - 151 Santa Cruz

Telephone - +351 291 520 124

Email: quintadorevoredo@iol.pt

Closed on Sundays

FUNCHAL

Sé Catedral

Se Cathedral was the first mother church built by Europeans outside the mainland.

In the last decade of the 15^th century, King Manuel I sent to the island the architect Pêro Anes to design the cathedral. Although the building was only concluded in 1514, mass was already celebrated in the temple in 1508, year when Funchal was elevated to city status.  However, the bell tower and some other details were only finalised in 1517-1518.

In the main nave, the niches for the images of saints and the apostles with customs of the 16th century are outstanding. The decoration of the arm supports portraits aspects of life in Madeira, as angels carrying a bunch of banana and wineskin. The church presents a unique silver processional cross, offered by King Manuel I, a master piece of Manueline Goldsmith’s Art. It has also one of the most beautiful wooden ceilings, made with wood of the island.

Some other aspects also deserve a special mention: the Flemish style chair in the main nave, the gothic principal door entrance, and gold carvings from the 18^th century demonstrate architectonic characteristics of Manueline style.

Igreja do Colégio dos Jesuítas /Igreja de São Envagelista

This fine church was built by the Jesuits and keeps a work of gold carving from the 17^th century, which is considered one of the most valuable pieces of Portuguese Art. It also exhibits tiles and paintings from the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

Igreja de São Pedro

The church dates back from the 16^th century, and keeps a remarkable collection of architectonic and decorative elements, as the Mannerist gateway, the ministers’ chairs dating from 1633 and the beautiful collection of tiles from the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

Igreja do Socorro

Also known as São Tiago, this church was built in the 18^th century and it is one of the Madeira churches that present more marks of Baroque style in its façades.

Convento de Santa Clara

Built between the years of 1489-1496, this convent has its walls covered with tiles from the 17^th century, wood ceilings with tiles in Hispano-Arabian style, and a collection of recovered canvass from the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The upper choir still maintains the original wood ceiling and tiles.

The gothic sepulchre of Martim Mendes, Captain João Gonçalves Zarco’s son in law, is inside the church.

Igreja do Carmo

Carmo church was built in the middle of the 18^th century, but it has been remodelled several times during the years. It presents beautiful pieces of art sacra and imaginary made of gold (17^th and 18^th centuries) and its walls are covered with historical tiles of the 18^th century and Baroque carvings.

Igreja de Santa Luzia

This church was built in the first half of the 18^th century, and presents paintings from the 17^th century and silvers from the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

Capela da Encarnação

From the 16^th century, this chapel is one of the most appreciated monuments of Manueline Style in Madeira in its remarkable pointed arches, columns and vaults in the sacred building.

Capela do Corpo Santo

The construction of this chapel was started at the end of the 15^th century and continued during the 16^th century, but the decoration is probably from the 17^th century.

It was the local community of fishermen that built the chapel and its preservation and maintenance is still done by locals. The chapel is devoted to São Pedro Gonçalves Telmo.

Recolhimento e Igreja do Bom Jesus

Dating from the 17^th century, this church presents pieces of gold and silver carvings from the 17^th century, like the processional cross. It also demonstrates the local tradition of Madeira homes to keep a sacred family image, generally in glass boxes.

Igreja do Monte

The church was built in the 18^th century in the place of a former chapel from the 15^th century. The sepulchre of Carlos Habsburgo, the Austrian-Hungry-Boehme Emperor who was exiled in Madeira in 1921, is in one of the lateral chapels.

CÂMARA DE LOBOS

Capela Nossa Srª. da Conceição

Also known as Capela da Nossa Senhora do Calhau, the chapel is located near the beach, in the bay of Câmara de Lobos. It was founded by Zarco in 1420, and was remodelled in 1723 and 1908, outstanding the rich golden carved Baroque altar.

Capela Nossa Srª. Das Preces

The chapel is located in Caminho Grande e Preces, in the parish of Câmara de Lobos. Its construction was ordered in 1683 by the priest Cunha e Mendonça.

RIBEIRA BRAVA

Igreja Matriz

The church was built at the end of the 15^th century. Some aspects deserve special mention: the 16^th century pulpit, the baptismal cistern, the golden carvings from the 17^th century, a painting from Francisco Henriques, and silver instruments from the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th centuries.

PONTA DO SOL

Igreja Matriz da Ponta do Sol

Dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Luz, the church was remodelled in the 18^th century. It preserves a chapel from the 15^th century in its interior.

Besides the precious silver religious instruments and the several images that it keeps, the church has a beautiful ceiling in the high choir in Spanish-Arabian style and a green ceramic baptismal font, probably from Seville, a unique piece of mud jar offered by King Manuel I.

CALHETA

Igreja Matriz

The church dates back from the 15^th century and has suffered several changes throughout the years. Along with Se Cathedral of Funchal, it is the only church in the island that still has intact the ancient chestnut tree wood ceiling. It presents in its interior pieces of imaginary art from the 17^th century, and also several gold religious pieces from the 16^th to the 19^th centuries.

Capela de Nossa Senhora do Loreto – Arco da Calheta

The most interesting elements in this 16^th century church are: the original mud jar ceiling, painted in white, blue and gold; the side gate dedicated to Loreto saint; and the open baptismal font.

PORTO MONIZ

Igreja Matriz

The construction of this church was started in 1660, but it was only concluded 8 years later. The Chapel Santíssimo Sacramento is outstanding along with the Pieces of Art that it keeps.

SÃO VICENTE

Capela de São Vicente

The church was built in 1694 by Inácio de Sousa, supported by the religious men. Built in the mouth of the stream, the chapel was established in the place where the Saint appeared according to tradition. The church is set on a rock and it is the ex-libris of São Vicente.

Capela do Livramento

It was erected by Father Manuel Gomes Garcês, September 11^th 1685, when he declared that he had built a chapel devoted to Nossa Senhora do Livramento. The small Mannerist church has a simple rectangular design, with only one nave. Its façade has a bell tower made of basaltic stone.

Capela do Pico da Cova

The Chapel Torre de Relógio, Pico da Cova, is devoted to Nossa Senhora de Fátima, in São Vicente, with 14 metres of high; it was built between 1942-1953.

SANTANA

Igreja Matriz de São Jorge

The church was built in 1660 in the place of a former small chapel of the 15^th century. Then, this church was also demolished to give place to a new one in 1761. It has remarkable gold carvings, especially in the main altar and pulpit.

MACHICO

Igreja Matriz de Machico

The Mother Church of Machico has roots in the foundation of the 13^th century Chapel Reis Magos (later known as Senhor dos Milagres), which was remodelled and enlarged during the second half of the 15^th century, becoming so the present church, devoted to N. Sra. da Conceição.

The church suffered several restoration processes, mainly during the 17^th and 18^th centuries, but its main design as a medieval temple was not altered. Its façade is marked by an elegant gothic basaltic door, formed by five arches in ogive, supported columns, followed by colonnades firmed on adorned pedestals.

Capela do Senhor dos Milagres

The name has its origin in an alluvium that destroyed part of the chapel in 1803; the crucifix lost in the sea water was miraculously discovered by an American galley, which brought it back to the chapel. To celebrate this event, a religious festivity takes place yearly and a traditional procession of fishermen is one of the most typical events of the island.

SANTA CRUZ

Igreja Matriz

João de Freitas, member of the Royal House, asked permission to King Manuel I to build a new church in Santa Cruz village, defending that the existing one was too small for the local population. This church of the 15^th century has a beautiful bell tower, crowned with the Cross of Christ. In the floor of the high altar, one can observe the gravestone of João Freitas and his wife.

FUNCHAL

Fortaleza de São João Baptista

This fortress, probably designed by Mateus Fernandes III, was built at the beginning of the 17^th century to protect the population from pirates’ attacks. The building has the form of a star and it is supported by four pentagonal bastions.

In the 20^th century, the Telegraphic Radio Station of Funchal was transferred to this fortress, besides other aerials, and the fortress received the common name of Pico Radio. At the present time, this military facility is used by the Navy, which has a museum in one of the halls, and is one of the most awesome observation points over Funchal City.

Palácio do Governo Regional

The most ancient part of this palace was built in 1685 to serve as a solidarity institution and city hospital; later, it received the medical school. At the present time, it is used as the palace of the Regional Government, and several regional departments are located in the building.

Assembleia Regional

The building used as seat of the Regional Legislative Assembly was built by order of King Manuel I to serve as the Customs’ House. This example of civil architecture presents the characteristics of the monarchy epoch and its decoration was made in Manueline style.

In 1982, several modifications prepared the place to receive the Regional Parliament.

Edifício da Câmara Municipal do Funchal

Former palace of Conde Carvalhal, the building was bought by the municipality of Funchal in 1883, and it is used presently as the City Hall. This palace is a precious example of the late 18^th century architecture, presenting an indoor tile floor yard with a fountain in its centre.

Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias

Located in Avenida Arriaga, in the heart of the city, Baltazar Dias is the municipal theatre. Inaugurated in 1888, it is a building of great beauty; its ceilings are painted with romantic motifs and its auditorium in the shape of a horse-shoe is surrounded by boxes decorated with Greek masks in golden wood carvings.

Paço Episcopal

This building is representative of the civil and religious architecture of Mannerism and Baroque styles. Located between the City Hall square and Rua do Bispo, it was built to serve as the official residence of the Bishop, and presently it lodges the Art Sacra Museum.

Forte de São José

This fortress was built in an islet 70-metre distant from the island’s coast, and later incorporated in the city pier. In 1419, and according to historical records, the Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira sheltered in this place before starting the island exploration. In 1903, the State sold the fortress and it has had several owners during the 20^th century. In 2000, the fortress was bought by Renato Barros, its actual owner, who demands the recognition of the islet as a Principality.

Quinta Vigia

Also known as Quinta Lambert or Angústias, this house is an example of the typical manors in Madeira of the 17^th century. Several illustrious characters lived in the manor, as Queen Adelaide of England, Duke of Luchtenberg and Empress Amelia.

Presently, it is the official residence of the President of the Regional Government.

  The Christ King of Garajau was inaugurated in 1927 as the fulfillment of a promise by Council member Aires de Ornelas. This statue is similar to the one built in Rio de Janeiro, on the mont of Corcovado, recently elected one of the "New seven wonders of the world" and idential to the statue built in Almada, in front of the city of Lisbon.

  The statue is implanted on the top of a hill facing the sea, for the simple reason that it was built at a time when the connections between Madeira and the outside world were made by boat and the intention was to welcome the visitors.

Madeira preserves some of the ancient beautiful manor houses, former homes of noble and wealthy families. Quinta in Portuguese means a vast property, with a residence of large dimension, surrounded by gardens and woods. Quinta is a concept connected with prestige and its use as residences was frequent in the 19^th century. Some of them have also agricultural fields, used to grow horticultural products, banana and vineyard. It is also frequent to find a belvedere in the manor and a leisure garden house.

Quinta Monte Palace

The manor belonged to a man called Charles Murray and was used as a hotel – Monte Palace - until de 40’s. This wonderful palace-like house, surrounded by gardens and trees, was visited by Isabella of France while Consul George Stoddert lived there.

Today, it is the seat of a private solidarity institution, Joe Berardo Foundation, devoted to charity and preservation of Works of Art. It also presents a museum and a restoration studio.

Quinta do Bom Sucesso

     The manor belonged to Reid family, which settled in Madeira in the middle of the 19^th century with business intentions. In 1963, the Botanic Garden was set in its gardens and several flowers and exotic plants were grown along with other plants characteristic of the region.

Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro

     This manor, built by the first Conde de Carvalhal at the beginning of the 19^th century, is considered one of the most magnificent and large manors of Madeira. Located east of Funchal, in top of high cliffs, it offers a splendid view over the city.  In its fields, there are gardens, orchards, agricultural lands and lagoons. The manor was visited by Empress Leopoldina, the first wife of Prince Pedro IV, Prince Luís, King Carlos and Queen Maria Amelia, and Prince Filipe of Edinburg. At the present time, it belongs to Blandy family, and it has a luxurious inn and a golf course.

Quinta das Cruzes

     It is believed that João Gonçalves Zarco would have lived in this manor built in Baroque civil architecture.

     It is now used as museum of décor arts and its gardens are embellished by a great variety of plants and flowers.

Quinta da Palmeira

     Located in Rua da Levada de Santa Luzia, the manor belongs to H. Hinton, and his heirs inhabit the house. The manor house is majestic, surrounded by gardens with trees of big size and large grass fields. It is possible to observe in its gardens a Manueline style window that belonged to João Esmeraldo building, where it is thought Cristóvão Colombo lived during his stay in Madeira.

Quinta Magnólia

The manor is located in Rua Dr. Pita and occupies an area of about 40,000 sq ms. It was bought by the Regional Government from an English family, and after its restoration, it became one of the most pleasant places of Funchal city. Beside its natural patrimony, the manor offers also several sports’ facilities that include circuit training, 2 tennis courts, pool, as well as a playground and a bar with esplanade. Every year, some musical events take place here, including the Funchal Jazz show.

Quinta da Boa Vista

The manor is located in Rua Lombo da Boa Vista, five minutes by car from the centre of the Funchal, and occupies an area of 2 hectares.

The house was built over than 200 years ago, and belongs today to Garton family; the habitats of several endangered flower species were recreated in its gardens, and can be visited.

Quinta Jardins do Imperador

The manor is called Gardens of the Emperor because of its emblematic gardens, which previous magnificence was recuperated. It is one of the most emblematic Quintas because it was the last residence of Emperor Carlos of Austria since he was exiled in 1921.

Malakof tower, where a coffee shop welcome its visitors, is undeniably beautiful not only because of its architectural configuration, but also due its sights over the romantic landscape of Monte garden, which presents a small fountain and a vast area covered with roses of different colours.

The basket cars appeared in the 19^th century as a traditional way of transportation across Madeira, and are still used in the present time. In the beginning, they were owned by rich foreigners or rented by people willing to travel to Funchal. The basket cars were the economical support to their manufacturers and also to their conductors. They resisted the different stages of technological development and can be found until the present time in Monte. Today, they are embedded in the tourist and entertainment spheres and every visitor that takes a ride in these basket cars can feel the distant past and the art of manufacturing and the skills of the conductors.

The rides are available from Monday to Saturday – 09:00 to 18:00 – and on Sundays – 09:00 to 13:00, and close on 15^th of August, the local holiday of de Nossa Senhora do Monte, and 25^th of December.

The city of Funchal celebrates on August 2008 its 500^th anniversary of elevation to city, granted by the Portuguese Crown, being the first city created in the Portuguese Discoveries Epopee.

To celebrate this ephemerid, a city council was formed to prepare the vast program of commemorations that will cover the following themes:

Knowledge and preservation of the patrimony (monuments, museology, archives, nature and toponym) Science, Arts, Immigration, Environment, Sports, Social Affairs, Entertainment, Exhibitions, Mass media, Publishers, Outside Activities.

Although Madeira is an island, the access to the sea is not easy to do. The beaches are rocky and the coastal line is aggressive in its abrupt cliffs that dive into the sea. This demanded the construction of bathing areas in the whole island coast, which allow that inhabitants and visitors enjoy the tepid ocean that bathes the region. 

FUNCHAL

Complexo Balnear da Barreirinha

Located nearby São Tiago Fortress, in the old zone of the city, it includes a child seawater pool, access to the sea, facilities with toilets, shower, lockers, bar, sunshades, sun loungers and a playground. The area is supervised by a lifeguard and has also a medical centre. The quality of the waters is recognised by with the European Blue Flag.

Poças do Gomes

Also known as Doca do Cavacas, this is a small bathing complex from where one can admire the highest cape of Europe (Cabo Girão) at west and Praia Formosa. The place has a small seawater pool and a staircase that leads to the sea.

Praia de São Tiago

This is a small rocky beach located nearby São Tiago fortress in the ancient part of Funchal. The sea is clear and tempting, with volcanic rocks near the coast. Its access is free as well as the use of the showers.

Ponta Gorda

Located in the east side of Funchal City, it is a vast area with several infra-structures: two sea water pools - one for children, a natural pool, access to the sea by a staircase, a sandy sports field and a playground. It offers a sun lounge with 690 sq ms, toilets, showers, sun loungers, sunshades, first aid centre, playground, bar, restaurant, games room and an internet hall.

Praia Formosa

     The bathing area of Formosa is composed by four beaches of sand and rocks, called Praia Nova, Praia Formosa, Praia dos Namorados and Praia do Areeiro. Its facilities include parking, showers, playground, sports facility, a soccer field, several restaurants and bars. The safety is assured by a team of lifeguards.

Lido

It is located in the west part of the city, near the most tourist part of Madeira and consequently next to banks, hotels, bars, stores, pubs and restaurants. It consists of two sea water pools refreshed daily, one with 50 metres long and 25 m width destined to adults, and other equipped specially for children in what concerns to safety and entertainment. The sea is accessible through several staircases.

It has a large sun lounge, two playgrounds, ping-pong tables, 2 fields of Madeira ball, games room and internet hall. Sun loungers, sunshades, toilets, showers and lockers are also available.

If you are interested in scuba diving, you will also find a diving centre where you can get the necessary equipment and gather information. At the top of the bathing area, nearby the road, you will find a good restaurant overlooking the sea and three bars with esplanade. The place is also watched by qualified personnel and has medical assistance.

Praia do Gorgulho

The beach is located west of Lido, very close to the promenade, bars, restaurants and a tourist office. It is free and has at disposal showers.

Piscinas da Quinta Magnólia

This is a magnificent manor with a supervised sea water pool, showers, lockers, sun loungers, sunshades, and a snack bar. The entrance is charged.

CÂMARA DE LOBOS

Praia do Vigário

Located south of Largo da República, the beach receives its name from the stream that ends here. It is the main bathing area of Câmara de Lobos. It is a rocky beach with sun lounge, sandy sport fields, showers, toilets and several restaurants in the neighbourhoods. 

RIBEIRA BRAVA

Calhau da Lapa

This beach is located in Campanário, and to reach the place it is necessary to go down an inclined road, which is only paved in the beginning. Although the beach is not supervised and the not easily accessed, the sea is calm and clear in this part of the island.

Praia da Ribeira Brava

Located in the centre of the village, this is a beach of lose stone and dark sand, 150 ms long, in the east side of the mouth of Ribeira Brava stream. It has a sun lounge area, pools, facilities (toilets and showers also prepared to people with disabilities), first-aid assistance, snack bar and restaurants. The entrance is free.

Fajã dos Padres

To reach Fajã dos Padres beach, you must use the lift that descends 300 metres, and then you have to walk a little further to get to the beach. However, the scenario is of such beauty that the effort is well worthy. The sea is accessible through a jetty with stairs or directly from the rocks. It has sun loungers, sunshades, showers and changing room. There is also a great restaurant, specialized in seafood.

PONTA DO SOL

Praia da Madalena do Mar

Madalena beach is rocky, with a deck sun lounge that occupies 700 sq ms, a jetty to the sea and two ramps to the beach. Also at disposal are a playground, a volleyball camp, a seafood restaurant, three bars, and showers. The beach is not supervised.

Praia da Ponta do Sol

Located in front of Ponta do Sol village, this beach is famous due to the mild climate the whole year-round; it is indeed the beach with more hours of sun during the year in Madeira. This beach is much appreciated by tourists, who take advantage of its bar, restaurant, showers, wheelchair ramps and other facilities.

CALHETA

Praia da Calheta

Calheta beach is the only white sand beach in the archipelago; the larger quantity of sand was brought from Morocco and a small part from Figueira da Foz, a place in the mainland. It is located nearby the modern yacht-harbour, which has capacity for 300 boats, if offers a sun lounge, changing rooms and first-aid assistance. It is possible to practice canoeing, rent windsurf boards and catamarans. Many people visit the place during the weekends but it is also a pleasant place during the week for those who prefer tranquillity.

Praia do Paul do Mar

Paúl do Mar beach, also known as Ribeira das Galinhas, is a quiet place with excellent conditions for sunbaths. The place does not have facilities nor is it supervised. It is the ideal place for those who like fishing and underwater fishing.

PORTO MONIZ

Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz

These natural pools are famous and much visited by tourists, being the ex-libris of the municipality. Built around volcanic rocks of Porto Moniz coast, they are the ideal place to swim and sunbathe. It is well prepared with a bar, playground, access to people with disabilities, car parking and first-aid assistance. The area is supervised by lifeguards.

Praia da Laje ou Jamaica

Located between Seixal and Porto Moniz, it is a dark sandy beach, also known as Jamaica beach due to the palm trees in the sidewalk that leads to the sea. The place is surrounded by green mountains that fall abruptly, offering a magnificent view. It has changing rooms, restaurants and lifeguard at disposal.

Piscinas Naturais do Seixal

Just as Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz, these sea water pools were built in the volcanic rock. The access is made through stairs and ramps with smooth inclination. It has changing room, toilets and a bar.

SÃO VICENTE

Complexo Balnear de São Vicente

São Vicente bathing area has several structures to make possible the practise of sea sports, and also has restaurants, bar, sun lounge and a seaside walk that links Varadouro to Baía dos Juncos.

Complexo Balnear da Ponta Delgada

This complex includes an adult pool and a children’s pool, both of sea water.

The pools have facilities as sun lounge, changing rooms, bar and first-aid assistance.

SANTANA

Foz da Ribeira de São Jorge

This sunbathing area consists of a small rocky beach and a fresh water lagoon, with three pools, a restaurant, sun lounge, showers, toilets, and a lifeguard.

Complexo Balnear da Ribeira do Faial

Located in the mouth of Faial stream, is consists of a small rocky beach, a sea water pool, a children’s pool, sports field, sport facilities, sun lounge, playground, bar and a restaurant.

MACHICO

Praia de Machico

Located in front of the city, the beach invites to sea bathes and sun rest. It is a rocky beach, presenting several possibilities: two pools, a restaurant, coffee/bar, showers, changing rooms, football and volleyball fields, and pedal boats and water crafts rental. It is supervised by two lifeguards, and has first-aid assistance. At weekends, the place is preferred by many people.

Prainha

It is a dark sand beach located in Caniçal, with changing rooms, showers, toilets, bar, sun loungers and sunshades.

Complexo de Piscinas do Caniçal

This is an area with two sea water pools, one for adults and one for children, and two staircases leading to the sea. There are also in the area a snack-bar, changing rooms, sun loungers and sunshades; it is supervised by a lifeguard.

Complexo Balnear do Porto da Cruz

Porto da Cruz beach, also known as Praia da Lagoa, is surrounded by a huge mountain facing the sea. It is a dark sand beach with a son lounge, snack bar, changing rooms and toilets. Nearby the beach, one can also find a sea bathing area of two natural pools and the necessary facilities.

SANTA CRUZ

Praia das Palmeiras

Located near the seaside avenue of Santa Cruz, it is a pleasant rocky beach. The place is divided into two distinct areas: the pools and the beach, both supervised. During summer time, inflatable dinghies and slides are set in the pools, especially for children. There is also a restaurant in the area; try the grilled wrasse while you watch the sunset and hear the waves whispering.

Complexo da Foz da Ribeira da Boaventura

     Located near the stream with the same name, this bathing area offers pools, sun loungers, changing rooms and restaurants. There is also a jetty accessing to the sea near the stream mouth.

Aquaparque

Inaugurated in 2005, this water park has capacity to 1,000 persons. It offers five slides, four turbo slides, two pools (one for children), a lazy river and a fast river, and a waterland. It is the perfect place for children and adults to have funny. It has a bar, changing rooms, lifeguards, souvenirs stores and large green areas.

Praia dos Reis Magos

     Located in Caniço, Reis Magos beach is bathed by clear crystal waters, surrounded by impressive natural beauty. Two lifeguards and first-aid assistance assure the visitors their safety. It is an excellent spot to the practice of sea sports, and it is prepared to receive people with disabilities in its facilities; it has at disposal toilets, restaurant, bar, rental of sunshades and sun loungers.

Lido Galo Mar

This bathing area is part of Lido hotel. Located in the maritime protected area of Parque Natural da Madeira, it has at disposal changing rooms, showers, sauna, diving centre, and a seawater pool adapted for children.

    Madeira is famous for the record captures it allows to those who seek great moments of Big Game Fishing. Most of the captures happen at 2-4 miles of the coast, because the depth there varies between 100 to 500 metres and reaches 1,500 metres at 10 miles from the coast. Due to the fact that the island is located in the migration courses of a great variety of fish species, blue marlin can be found in these waters, among other species, which is considered a great capture for the lovers of this practise. However, with the intention to preserve the species, each fish captured are just marked and then returned to the sea.

     A great number of records have been conquered in Madeira maritime area. Some of the other possible captures are: big eyed tuna, tuna, yellow fin tuna, Northern blue fin tuna, blue shark, hammers head sharks nei, barracuda and swordfish. In Faial yacht-harbour, one can find well equipped fishing boats, ready for the practise of big game fishing and captained by people with much experience. 

Madeira is a special place for those who love diving. Not only it has crystal mild waters, 18º C in Winter and 22ºC in Summer, but also a great variety of fauna and flora in its seas. Madeira is plenty of wonderful diving spots, namely Reserva Natural do Garajau and Baixa da Cruz.

    In the natural reserve of Desertas, located about 22 miles south of Funchal city, one can watch sea wolves; because the human presence is scarce, it is one of those dreaming places where fish do not face man as a threat and allow people to swim among immense shoals. Ponta de Sao Lourenço natural reserve is located in the west part of the island, presenting a peculiar fauna and flora.

In Garajau natural reserve, one can watch big size fish, as sea bass, that can be fed by hand. Dolphins, amberjack, whiting, bogue, damselfish, ray, moray, wrasse, barracuda and salema are other species that you will find when diving in the waters that bath Madeira.

     There are several diving schools and companies, located mainly in Funchal and Caniço de Baixo, which give diving classes to all levels of apprenticeship, diving excursions to more experienced divers and also rent the necessary equipment.

Between 1940 and 1981, whaling was a common activity in the island, and the derivative products were exported to the United States, England and France. When whaling ended, Madeira dedicated itself to the preservation of the species. Whale and dolphin watching is a recent activity. 

The waters around Madeira Archipelago are crossed by different species of whales and dolphins. Whales pass nearby during North and South migrations, in spring and autumn respectively. Dolphins stay all year round and can be watched regularly.

     There are several companies of whale watching that through different courses allow watching these animals in their habitats. In Madeira seas, one can sight species of small size, as spotted dolphins nei or common dolphins, and big size species, as humpback whales, beaked whales, sei whales, pilot whales, killer whales and false killer whales. Besides these mammals, sea turtles and sea wolves can also be sighted.

The Whaling Museum in Caniçal village is an institution dedicated to the preservation of the whaling memory and it is also the major scientific research centre of Cetaceans in the region. It develops several initiatives, as the Project to the Preservation of Cetaceans in the Archipelago of Madeira, which contributes to the knowledge and preservation of these mammals.

In 2009, the important annual conference and debate what the whales of the world will take place in Madeira, after it was chosen by the International Whaling Commission to receive the 61^st annual meeting. 

     There is a whale watching company that offers a second trip if whales or dolphins are not sighted at the first trip, assuring in this way the watching of sea animals. “Rota dos Cetáceos” can be contacted at 291 208600 or 91 8828242, and has its head office in Marina Shopping, store 23.

     Boat tours offer splendid sights of the coast, which is very beautiful. It is frequent to watch dolphins and sometimes whales; these tours also offer the possibilities of swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, watch birds and practise scuba diving.

You can choose in Marina yacht-harbour the tour that pleases you more among the offer of the different companies.

Also in Calheta yacht-harbour you will find specialised companies of this activity. Another possibility is a tour to Desertas Island to meet the Atlantic sea wolf shelter or watch other species of maritime fauna.

Due to its exceptional weather and natural beauty, Madeira is the ideal place to play golf. There are two golf courses in Madeira and one in Porto Santo:

Santo da Serra

Experts consider this golf course one of the most spectacular among the country golf courses of Europe because of its awesome views over the mountain and the sea. Designed by Robert Trent Jones and inaugurated in 1991, this golf course is located not far from Funchal and less than 15 minutes from the Intercontinental Airport of Madeira. It is a 27-hole course, with 6,039 metres and pair 72, characterised by generous fairways and greens, and a choice of Tees position, which is favourable to different skills.

Address – Casais Próximos, 9200 – 152 Santo António da Serra

    Telephone – +351 291 550100

Palheiro Golf

500 metres above Funchal bay, it is located in Campo do Palheiro Golfe, nearby the exotic gardens of Palheiro manor house. Inaugurated in 1993, it was designed by Cabel Robinson, who used the advantage of the hills, peaks and deep valleys of the landscape in order to present a thrilling and competitive game to golf professional players. The course has 18 holes, pair 72, with 6,015 metres, and other facilities as pro-shop, putting green and driving range.

Address Rua do Balancal nº 29, 9060 – 414 Funchal

Telephone – +351 291 790120

     Web – www.palheirogolf.com

In 1982, the Regional Government of Madeira declared officially two thirds of the Island as Natural Park, with the aim to preserve a vast natural patrimony, which is a worldwide rare heritage. The protected area includes the Laurissilva Forest, the Natural Reserves of Selvagens and Desertas Islands, the Natural Reserve of Garajau, the Natural Reserve of Rocha do Navio and the Natural Park itself. Madeira belongs to the geographic area of Macaronésia (along with the archipelagos of the Azores, Canaries and Cabo Verde), which is unique due to the vestiges of a forest prior to the last ice age – the Laurissilva Forest. While in other regions human hand has almost extinguished this patrimony, in Madeira the forest has subsisted and nowadays occupies the largest area of Laurissilva in the world – 15.000 hectares.

The Natural Park Service is a governmental department that is responsible for the management and preservation of the Natural Park of Madeira.

SÍTIO DA ROCHA DO NAVIO

This reserve is comprised between Ponta de São Jorge and Ponta do Clérigo, northcoast of Madeira Island, in the municipality of Santana. This protected area was created to preserve the habitats that were being seriously damaged by excessive fishing. The reserve includes the islet of Viúva, also known as Rocha do Navio, with several exclusive plants of the archipelago, besides the nucleus of juniper trees, a very common species in Porto Santo and Madeira coastal land.

RESERVA DO GARAJAU

This reserve was created in 1986, in the south coast of Madeira, and it is an extraordinary maritime reserve. Among the existing fauna, fish of big size can be found, as grouper, devil fish and manta, whose gracious movements turn the place into an international attraction, along with the great diversity of coastal species. Fish accept peaceful the human presence and allow the freedom of swimming among them, which is an excellent opportunity of taking rare photos. Inside the protected area, fishing is not allowed and navigation is strictly controlled.

ILHAS DESERTAS

Deserta Islands belong to the archipelago and are located 11 miles south of Madeira, and 21 miles distant from Funchal port. These three islands have the names of Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio. The islands belonged to two English families between 1894 and 1971 (as well as Selvagens Islands did), being bought then by the Portuguese State.

In 1990, Desertas were considered natural reserve, which includes the islands and the surrounded sea until a depth of 100 metres. The reserve was divided into two protected areas interdicted to visitors: Deserta Grande at south with a research station where 3 vigilants are the only human presence, and Bugio. In 1992, they were considered Bio Generic Reserve by the European Committee.

ILHAS SELVAGENS

Selvagens Islands are located 250 km south of Funchal, about 250 km from the African coast, 1,000 km southwest from the European continent and 165 km north from Canaries. The islands are of volcanic origin and consist of 2 main islands and several islets. The north group is formed by Ilha Selvagem Grande and two small islets named Palheiro da Terra and Palheiro do Mar. The south group is formed by Ilha Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora along with several small islets as Alto, Comprido, Redondo and the small group of Ilhéus do Norte (northern islets). A large barrier of reefs surrounds the archipelago and do not ease the access to the coast. The archipelago, a true sanctuary for birds, has very abrupt landscape and occupies an area of 273 hectares.

At the present time, only two people inhabit Selvagens (and only during some months), the Natural Park guards. The Natural Reserve of Selvagens Islands was created in 1971, being one of the oldest in Portugal.

FUNCHAL

Jardim Orquídea

With over than 50,000 plants, this unique garden in Europe is a sort of wood of orchids. It was created in a model size of a forest, and its visitor can observe a wide variety of orchids, in original and hybrid forms, and also admire other tropical plants. It is also possible to follow an interesting research about reproduction in lab and the plants that grow during the whole year.

The enterprise was founded in Austria during the Emperor’s Monarchy, and since then, the family, already in the forth generation, has been devoted to research and create new species of several plants. Its visitor can also enjoy the coffee shop in the terrace, from where one will be able to admire an awesome view over Funchal, and taste the regional gastronomy accompanied by Austrian wine.

Visits take place everyday from 09:30 to 18:00, and the garden is located in Rua Pita da Silva nº37, 200 metres above the Botanic Garden (look for further information in the section of this guide)

wwwmadeiraorchidsfarms.com
brigitte@netmadeira.com

Jardim Botânico

Located 3 km from the centre of Funchal, this is the most famous and visited garden of Madeira. Placed in the south coast of a valley, it gathers the perfect conditions to the growth and preservation of exuberant vegetation. Besides a sublime view over Funchal bay, the garden occupies an area of 35,000 sq ms, with over than 2,000 exotic plants from all the continents, and where several research and preservation of endangered species are being carried out.

It is formed by six main areas: arboretum, indigenous plants, succulents, agriculture, aromatic and medicinal plants, and palm trees. Ginkgo, magnolia, cedar, araucaria, populus, jacaranda, tipuanas, ficus and many other species grow in the arboretum area, filling it with gracious shapes and contrastive colours. The area dedicated to indigenous plants was conceived by the engineer Rui Vieira, the first director of the garden. It presents over than 100 species of Macaronesia flora from Madeira, Azores, Canaries and Cape Verde.

The garden is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00.

www.sra.pt/jarbot
jardimbotanico.sra@gov-madeira.pt

Jardim dos Loiros

     Next to Jardim Botânico, Loiros Park is another attractive spot where 3 hundred exotic and rare tropical bird species shelter, as cockatoo, parakeet from Asian tropical islands, Australian parrot and dwarf parrot. It is undoubtedly an amazing journey through the colourful world of parrots.

Jardim Panorâmico

     This panoramic garden is located in the heart of the tourist area of Funchal, between the public sea sidewalk and the Monumental road, in Ajuda. The vegetation is grouped in four theme areas: Coastal Native Flora, Middle Land Native Flora, Cactus and Succulents, and Tropical Zone. The place offers a magnificent view over the Atlantic Ocean.

Jardim Quinta das Cruzes

Located in the park in annex to Museu da Quinta das Cruzes, this garden presents a wide range of endemic and exotic plants. The garden can be visited Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 18h00, in Calçada do Pico 1, Funchal.

www.rpmuseus-pt.org

mqc@netmadeira.com

Jardim da Quinta Magnólia

In its 40,000 sq ms of vast green areas, one can admire in this garden several exotic plants and trees brought from all over the world. The garden was named after Magnolia grandiflora, a natural North American tree. The place keeps a remarkable collection of palm trees and lauraceas, with a special mention to the leafy camphor trees located near the central green. Several trees and ferns, as marcamia (Markamia platycalix), weeping schotia (Schótia brachypetala), dombeya (Dombeya wallichii) and iris cristata (Erythrina cristagalli) occupy the area between the central green and the playground. There are also dragoon trees, representative from the local flora.

The garden opens daily from 08:00 to 21:00.

Jardins do Palheiro

Besides the great panoramic view, possible due to the excellent localisation in one of the hillsides of Funchal, these gardens offer large greens and lakes, and keep a wide collection of exotic plants from all over the world. These private gardens receive more than 40,000 visits yearly.

The gardens are located in Palheiro Ferreiro, and visits are allowed Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:30.

www.madeira-gardens.com

gardens@palheiroestate.com

Jardim Tropical Monte Palace

The Tropical Garden of Monte Palace is located in Monte village in the manor with the same name, property of Joe Berardo foundation. !00,000 different vegetal species since azaleas and heather, were planted in the place along with several tree species and a wide variety of fetus.

      The garden presents a collection of cycads, which are considered living fossils. Among the 72 known species, the garden has about 60 types. It has also a spot dedicated to the island’s flora, where one can find the most of Macaronesia Laurissilva varieties, besides other endangered species, as for example Pittosporum coriaceum.

The garden can be visited on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00, with entrances by Caminho do Monte 174 and Caminho das Babosas.

www.montepalace.com

fundacaoberardo@netmadeira.com

Jardins da Quinta da Boa Vista

The principal attraction of this garden is the exhibition of orchids, which have been gathered and rewarded in the last 20 years. From December to May, orchids' greenhouses present remarkable flower exhibitions, predominantly Cymbidiums, Paphipedilums (paphos slipper) and Lycastes, while a hybrid collection of rare species can be admired during the rest of the year. There are also other areas that justify a visit to this garden: the area dedicated to South American Bromeliads, Australian Martinetes and African aloes.

Quinta da Boa Vista Garden is located in Rua Lombo da Boa Vista, in Funchal. It can be visited from Monday to Satuday, 09:00 to 17:30 (except on holidays).

Jardim de Santa Luzia

The area that lodged the former Hinton factory working in an historical building,, vestige of a prosperous sugar cane industry, is now transformed into a green spot in the heart of Funchal. The only thing that left from the old factory was the huge chimney.

It has about 17,000 sq ms of green areas, which include five gardens of different themes: Jardim do Anfiteatro (amphitheatre garden), Jardim Tropical (tropical garden), Jardim da Água (water garden), Jardim dos Socalcos (causeway garden) and Jardim da Laurissilva (laurissilva garden).

Jardim Municipal

The municipal garden, also known as Queen Amelia’s, is located in the north side of Avenida Arriaga, and occupies an area of 8,300 sq ms. Here, Convent de São Francisco was once located, from which the remaining Pedro de Armas (coat of arms) is in exhibition in one of the green areas.

     The garden presents not only samples of the island’s flora, but also plants from other parts of the world. It has also a lake and a small stream with fish and birds. Some pieces of art and an auditorium where several cultural events take place are also worthy of mention.

Parque de Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina Park is located in the city of Funchal and occupies an area of 36,000 sq ms. It is one of the most important parks of the city for it is used not only for pleasant walks but also as stage of mass meetings, popular celebrations (as the Labour Day commemoration), or the place of several small events like expositions of animals.

The park has a large green, surrounded by several beds that display countless species of fern, bush and herbs from all over the world. Outstanding are the Chapel of Santa Catarina and the lagoon, where an island was built to be the nest and rest of birds.

Parque Municipal do Monte

     Parque do Monte, also known as Parque Leite Monteiro, presents century trees and many native and exotic species. At the entrance, one can find Largo da Fonte (fountain square), shaded by big platans, followed by a band-stand and Fonte da Virgem (another fountain), built in marble and squared stone. This garden, considered the municipal garden placed at the highest altitude (about 550 metres), is also characterised by a refreshing quietness, to which contributes the stream that crosses the garden and falls in cascade.

Parque Ecológico do Funchal

This park occupies an area of about 1,000 hectares. The considerably different altitudes, along with several water courses, allow the park to have a wide variety of native flora, which have been increased with tree plantation of species as Til (Ocotea foetens), Laurel (Laurus azorica), Vinhático (Persea indica) and Barbusano (Apollonias barbujana).

In the high lands of the park, tree ferns are predominant, especially tree heath and Uveira da Serra (Vaccinium padifolium).
Between 1,550 and 1, 600 metres of altitude, the two nucleus of Sorbus Domestica (also known as service tree) survive. Sorveira (Sorbus maderensis) is a very rare endemism of Madeira. In what concerns to bird species, there is a large percentage of birds that build nest in the Achipelago.

This ecological park also carries out several activities aiming the preservation of nature, environmental education and the creation of recreational areas to the local population and its visitors. Some of these activities are connected with the cleaning of the areas infested with eucalyptus and acacias. At the same time, indigenous species are being introduced with the purpose to bring back the primitive forest to the hillsides of Funchal. Other crucial action for the preservation and expansion of the indigenous vegetal associations was the removal of goat and sheep flocks that lived in free pasture.

Several environmental educational actions are addressed to the students of the schools of the archipelago and also to students from outside the region.

Another attractive point of the park is Poço da Neve (snow well), unique in the cultural patrimony of Madeira, which is a reservoir that was once used to keep ice.

Telephone +351 291 784 700

E-mail: pecof@cm-funchal.p

www.cm-funchal.pt/ambiente/parque_ecologico/pq_ecologico.htm

CONCELHO DE SANTANA

Roseiral da Quinta do Arco

In the gardens of Quinta do Arco manor, located in Arco de São Jorge in the north coast of the island, one can visit one of the largest collections of rose bushes of Portugal, including some rare species and endangered species.

The collection is formed by over thousand different species of roses. The visitor will be able to see ancient and contemporary rose bushes, creeping and non-creeping plants. The most important and rare species have labels with their names and respective classification.

The park is open daily from 11:00 to 18:00.

Sítio da Lagoa Arco de São Jorge

Tel.: 291 570270

info@quintadoarco.com

www.quintadoarco.com

Parque Florestal das Queimadas

     Queimadas is an isolated place, about 5 km from Santana, and it is the perfect place for a picnic or a walk among nature. To get to Queimadas, one must follow west from Santana until the sign that indicates the pathway. The road is an uneven path that climbs the mountain, passes through bunches of gorses, hydrangeas and wild flowers, and ends at the centre of a wonderful forest. The house of the park guards, located nearby, is a large building of straw lofts. In the surroundings of the house, there are picnic tables and public restrooms.

One of the main attractions of Madeira is the extraordinary walks that can be done in its levadas, which are water channels built in the mountain to carry the water from the springs to the plantations and villages. These water channels travel over than 2,150 km crossing the island, and are the result of hard labour of many generations, working in extremely difficult conditions with primitive tools.

In case that you decide to do hiking, prepare yourself to discover awesome landscapes, unique in their beauty, and recesses with flora not seen any place else in the world. When hiking, always use mountain boots, warm clothing and a carry a bag with water and food. You should inform family, friends or your hotel reception which hike you are going to take, because you will not be able to use your cell phone in some parts of the circuit in case you need assistance. We suggest that you contact specialized companies to provide you with guidance.

Sugestões de Passeios:

Rabaçal / 25 Fontes / Rabaçal (Municipality of Santana)

Duration: 3 hours and a quarter; Level of Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate; Distance 9 Km; Equipment: boots, raincoat, water and food.

This is one of the most beautiful walking trails of Madeira, through valleys, waterfalls, laurel woods and centenary heath trees.

You can drive through Estrada Regional 110 until Rabaçal, where you will find the mountain shelter. The circuit is not difficult but not advisable to people with vertigo due to the narrow paths in certain sections.

25 fontes (fountains) is a lagoon surrounded by vegetation, which receives the water courses of several streams with origin in Paul da Serra. Enjoy the quietness and beauty of this unique place. The return is done by the same way.

Queimadas / Caldeirão Verde / Queimadas (Municipality of Santana)

Duration: 5 hours; Level of Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate; Distance: 12 Km; Equipment: boots, raincoat, flashlight, water and food.

The trail starts at Parque Florestal das Queimadas in Santana, where the shelter of Queimadas is located, a building that keeps the original characteristics of Santana typical thatched houses. While, you will cross abrupt slopes and mountains, admire the Laurissilva vegetation, sight valleys, small craters, waterfalls, pass through the four existing tunnels during the circuit, and finally reach Caldeirão Verde on the left side.

Caldeirão Verde Lake is formed by the water that falls vertically from the stream bed approximately 100 ms high. Get back by the same way.

Caminho Real da Encumeada (Starting at the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos and ending in the Municipality of São Vicente)

Duration: 6 hours and half; Level of Difficulty: Intermediate; Distance: 12.5 km; Equipment: boots, raincoat, flashlight, water and food.

The beginning of the path is in the belvedere of Boca da Corrida, in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos. Be ready to cross the Central Mass of Mountains, near the base of one of the highest peaks of Madeira, and sight Curral das Freiras, a small village surrounded by high mountains. Other constant presence along the circuit will be the abundant Laurissilva forest. Round Pico Grande and take a good look at Serra d’Água and Encumeada mountains; after passing through the pipes that supply The Hydroelectric Central of Serra d’Água, you will end the walking trail at Boca da Encumeada.

Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (Municipality of Machico)

Duration: 2 hours and half; Level of Difficulty: Easy; Distance: 8 km; Equipment; boots, water and food.

     Enter the tunnel that links Machico to Caniçal and get ready to leave a green luxuriant world and step into an arid and desert one. São Lourenço edge is located in the extreme east of the island, place where mountains, sea and nature combine to give birth to a great miracle of Mother Nature.

“Muro de pedra da Baía d’Abra” and the whole area that integrates the Natural Parque of Madeira are classed as natural reserve. The whole land and sea area adjacent to the north coast, until a depth of 50 ms, are incorporated in the habitats considered as community interest – Natura 2000 Network.

The landscape in this part of the island is completely different from the rest for the climate is semi arid, the undergrowth vegetation and the absence of trees. You will find a great variety of plants, some of endemic species, and rich fauna, including colonies of seagulls, goldfinches, kestrels, and Cory’s shearwater among others.

At Cais do Sardinha, enjoy a pleasant sea bath in the crystal waters of the Atlantic.

      The two cable cars in Funchal provide tourists with a half-a-day program through the south green hills of the island and allow visitosr to watch some of its beautiful scenarios and recesses.

Teleférico Funchal - Monte

Located in the ancient part of the city, in Campo Almirante Reis, it links Funchal to Monte in about 10 minutes. The station in Monte is located in Largo das Babosas.

With a total of 39 cars of 7 seats each, this way of transportation offers magnificent sights over the bay and valleys of Funchal.

Monte is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the island, in its luxuriant landscape, a unique architectonic patrimony, magnificent gardens and the basket cars, unique in the world, which allow the return to the capital in an unforgettable vertiginous ride.

Timetable: 09:30 to 17:45

Teleférico do Jardim Botânico

This aerial cable car links the Botanic Garden to the place of Babosas (Monte) in about 9 minutes. The main station is located in the Botanic Garden and the other in Monte, nearby Babosas Square.
The aerial cable line has a distance of 1,600 metres at an altitude between 10 and 100 metres; it can carry 400 persons per hour in 12 cars seating 8 persons each.

This travel offers visitors privileged views over Funchal’s bay and the valley of Ribeira de João Gomes, a place of rare beauty covered with Laurissilva forest. It can also lead to the walking trails called levadas in Tornos, Bom Sucesso and Curral dos Romeiros, places much visited by tourists.

Timetable: Everyday from 9:30 to 17:30

The street festivals are the most traditional events of popular celebrations in Madeira, and are generally associated with religious feasts. The festivals are cheered by folkloric groups, philharmonic bands and the streets are embellished with beautiful flower carpets. It is frequent to watch the different groups of pilgrims challenge each other to compete in singings.

Also in these festivals, people use the opportunity to taste the delicious local gastronomy, enjoying the traditional espetada (cubes of meat grilled in a laurel spit), bolo do caco (a special bread), and taste the dry wine or beer with the traditional orange juice.  The most famous street festivals are Senhora do Monte (Funchal), Senhora do Loreto (Calheta), Senhor dos Milagres (Machico), Senhora da Graça (Calheta), and Senhor Bom Jesus (Ponta Delgada).

In the archipelago, other events are also cheerfully celebrated, as Carnival, Flower Feast, Madeira Wine Festival, Atlantic Festival and of course the New Year’s Eve, unique in its firework and amazing shows that amuse the large number of visitors during this period.

Below there is a list of the most significant festivals that place in the archipelago.

MUNICIPALITY OF FUNCHAL

Carnival Festival – Two main events mark the Carnival Celebration in Madeira:

- The Great Allegorical Parade, which takes place on Carnival Saturday, and which aims to synthesise the popular native tradition and the Brazilian Carnival influences. Several groups and thousands of participants invade the main streets of the city in a parade of music and contagious euphoria.

- The Clumsy Parade takes place on Carnival’s Tuesday and it is more popular and a little anarchical, where the political and social criticism marks the position with the population spontaneous participation.

This is a week of constant amusement, invading hotels, bares and discos, transforming the whole city into a joyful entertainment.

Atlantic Festival – This festival has its major attraction in the firework contest organised by several companies of different countries that compete to achieve the title of Kings of Firework. Nevertheless, the festival also presents other events as the Music Festival and several street entertainments. The Music Festival is focused in erudite music and several concerts take place in churches and cathedrals.

Jazz Festival – Already in its 9^th edition, the festival takes place in the first weekend of July in the fantastic Gardens of Quinta Magnolia manor.  Each passing year, the festival raises its quality with the participation of recognised regional, national and international artists.

Monte Festival – It is one of the most important celebrations to the locals that climb in their knees the 74 steps to Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte to pray and pay their vows. The visitor can also appreciate the local gastronomy, as espetada, bolo do caco, wheat soup among other delicacies. The festival takes place on the 14^th and 15^th of August.

Flower Feast – the traditional Festa da Flor takes place yearly after Eastern and intends to celebrate the Spring Season. Its highest attraction is the allegorical parade with thousand of participants and exhibitions of countless flower species across the streets of the City.

In the eve, thousands of children go on parade between Avenida Arriaga and the City Hall Square to lay a flower there and build in this way a Wall of Hope.

Besides these activities, the Flower Feast has many other attractions as the flower street carpets in Avenida Arriaga and Largo do Chafariz, contests of window-dressing in the local commerce stores, folklore groups’ performance, the Flower Exhibition in Largo da Restauração, and concerts.

Madeira Wine Festival – Madeira Wine is one of the most emblematic products of the archipelago, and this festival is a way to celebrate its importance, remaking its ancient means of production: the harvest, the parade of the grape-gathers, the pressing, the tasting, the music and dance. The festival takes place from 5 to 7 of September.

      Chestnut Festival – It takes place yearly at the beginning of November in the village of Curral das Freiras, a place where there are many chestnut trees that inspire and provide the raw material to the different offers of the festival, especially in gastronomy, since soup to liqueur.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve – December is totally absorbed by Christmas celebration. The festival program begins with street lightning in Funchal, filled with Christmas motifs and music. Almost in all streets of the city one can hear folklore groups, classical music, and pop or rock concerts. There are also many Christmas exhibitions across the city.

In 23^rd December eve, Noite do Mercado (Market Evening) takes place in the local marketplace. At the sound of good music, the market stands present appetising fruit, vegetables, wine and beer.

After Christmas celebration, the festival goes on until the climax of the 31^st of December. The New Year’s Eve in Madeira is an awesome spectacle of firework and light, famous worldwide, included in the Guinness Book as the greatest firework show. It is one of those things that one should see at least one time during life, and therefore it attracts to the island thousands of visitors.

If you are planning to visit Madeira in December, you should book your trip in anticipation because the occupation rate of the hotels is generally around 100 per cent by this time of the year.

MUNICIPALITY OF SANTA CRUZ

Santo Amaro Feast – The feast in honour of the Patron Saint Santo Amaro is the most important event to the Municipality of Santa Cruz. It is a three-day festival with many entertaining activities, which includes the traditional procession, an ethnographic fair and several concerts. The festival takes place after Christmas celebrations, at the end of the second week of January.

Art´Camacha Festival – Taking place at Largo Conselheiro Aires de Ornelas, in Camacha village, the festival presents a varied musical program, including folklore, voice groups, students’ groups and rock, along with other cultural events as art exhibitions, theatre and gastronomy. Enjoy a meal or simple a drink and some appetizers in one of the several Restaurants and Bars.

     Onion Festival – This festival is a way of promoting a popular local tradition, much important to the local farmers. The activities include lectures of techniques about onion plantation, exhibition of flower bouquets made with onion’s peel, prizes to farmers and a vast program of entertainment: folklore, fado, students’ groups and theatre. In the last day of the Festival, an allegorical parade fills the streets. The festival takes place at the end of April.

MUNICIPALITY OF MACHICO

Week of Gastronomy in Machico – With the purpose of promoting the regional and local gastronomy, this festival started 20 year ago and takes place in the first week of August. Besides the gastronomy, other events enrich this festival, activities as the Cocktails Festival, the Veterans Soccer Tournament, Beach Volley and Basketball, cheered by street music and concerts.

Nossa Senhora da Piedade Feast – It takes place in Caniçal village, in honour of Nossa Senhora da Piedade; the feast attracts many people to the place, who come to fulfil the promises to Virgin Mary. The procession leaves Nossa Senhora da Piedade Chapel on Sunday carrying the Image by boat. The boats depart from the new port of Caniçal, adorned with palm leaves and flags, heading to Quinta do Lorde quay. From here, the pilgrims start the procession until the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, returning to village again by sea. In the Chapel, people attend mass in celebration of the patron saint. The Feast takes place in the third weekend of September.

Grape Festival - Porto da Cruz receives annually in September the Festival of the Grape, event that consists in cheerful popular celebrations. An allegoric parade fills the streets and presents several cultural aspects of the village, which is traditionally a place of American Vineyard production.

Senhor dos Milagres Feast – the city of Machico celebrates at the beginning of September the Feast of Senhor dos Milagres, which receives the visit of thousands of people. It consists of 2 days of solemn homenage to Senhor dos Milagres, including a night procession. During the festivities, the street lights are turned off, increasing in this way the sense of religiosity.

The celebration evokes the flood that happened on October 9, 1803, which destroyed the chapel where the image was kept, dragging it to the sea. The image was recuperated years later and again kept in the chapel, which was meanwhile rebuilt in 1813.

MUNICIPALITY OF SANTANA

Internacional Festival of Faial “Vozes do Atlântico”- This is a festival open to all the young people of the island that want to compete with originals. It is a reunion of more experienced musicians with the younger, eager to show their creativity. The sociability between participants, organisers, collaborators and the audience, allied with the love for poetry and nature, create a special ambience around this festival. It has created roots and has shown new values and musical groups for the amusement and cultural development of Faial population. It takes place on August 11^th.

Anona Festival – this festival celebrates the fruit that has been more exported from Madeira to overseas. It has the aim not only to promote the fruit (custard apple) but also to entertain its visitors with a vast musical program with local and national artists, students’ groups and folklore. It places place on February or March depending on the calendar.

48-Hours Dance Festival – Considered one of the most unusual festivals of Madeira, this is a folklore festival that gathers all the regional groups to perform during a non-stop period of 48 hours. This is also an excellent opportunity to show the delicious local gastronomy and the traditional aspects of the municipality. There are several street stands of appetizers and drinks. The festival takes place in the parish of Santana on the first 2 weeks of July.

MUNICIPALITY OF PORTO MONIZ

Week of the Sea – it takes place on the first week of July and marks the beginning of the Summer Season. During an entire week, the village receives several sea games, sport competitions and entertainment events as folklore and traditional music concerts. This is a recent festival that is earning fame each new edition.

Fair of Agriculture and Cattle-Breeding in Porto Moniz – every July, a fair of agriculture and cattle breeding is organised by the Regional Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with the goal of promoting the development of these activities; it is a good opportunity for producers promote their products and open new markets. Until 1980, the fair was known as cattle fair because only animals were exhibited. But then the fair opened to agriculture and received the name of Agriculture and Cattle Breeding Fair, although most locals still call it as formerly. As a good street festival, one can have meals on the streets and listen to the street shows that accompany the fair.

Starting in 2008, the fair will take place in the new facility, with better conditions, called “ A Porta da Laurissilva”.

MUNICIPALITY OF SÃO VICENTE

The religious feasts of the Municipality of Vicente have always attracted people from other places. Several feasts are celebrated annually, from which the most known are: the pilgrimage to Senhor Bom Jesus, in Ponta Delgada, in the 1^st Sunday of September; the pilgrimage to Nossa Senhora do Rosário, in the parish of São Vicente, celebrated on the 1^st Sunday of October; the street festival in Feteiras, in the last Sunday of July; the street festival  in Fajã do Penedo, parish of Boaventura, on the 2^nd and 3^rd Sundays of September; and the street festival in 1ª Lombada, Ponta Delgada, taking place on the 2^nd Sunday of August.

MUNICIPALITY OF CALHETA

“There are several popular celebrations in the Municipality of Calheta, which demonstrate the characteristics of its population and from which the Holy Spirit Festivities are worthy of mention in its songs and vestments (May). We are proud of them!”

 In “história com história”, António Manuel de Castro e Maria Elisa de França Brazão.

Apple Festival – the festival takes place in September and gathers hundreds of farmers from the whole island in the parish of Ponta do Pargo, in the extreme west of the island, to participate in this feast of apple, a much famous fruit in the region. The feast is accompanied with the habitual food stands in the streets and entertainment.

MUNICIPALITY OF RIBEIRA BRAVA

São Pedro Feast – In this municipality the festivities in honour of São Pedro have a special place; the feast takes place on 28^th and 29^th of June, when the streets are decorated and the evenings entertained with public lightning and firework. There are food stands on the streets, especially with meat to the famous espetadas (cubes of beef grilled in laurel spits) so they can be cooked at home. Danças de Espadas (sword dances) and Agrupamentos de Castanholas (groups of castanets) are the evening entertainment.

MUNICIPALITY OF CÂMARA DE LOBOS

Popular Parade of São Pedro – It takes place at the end of July and consists of a parade with hundreds of participants, which are divided into groups that represent several cultural and social institutions of the municipality. The event is integrated in the Summer Festivals.

      Art Mar Festival – this festival takes place on the second week of September, and 2008 is its third edition. It has been recognised by its ability of gathering important national musicians in Câmara de Lobos, like Mariza, Madredeus and Ana Moura. The shows take place in Ilhéu Garden, in the centre of Câmara de Lobos city. Besides the quality of the concerts and beauty of the natural surrounding scenario, the place is magnificently decorated transforming it into an unforgettable festival.

     Madeira welcomes its visitors with great nature and entertainment. Considering that Madeira has a large population of youths, evenings and weekends can be enjoyed in several ways, although the archipelago has not a wide variety of night entertainment, mostly because it is not a priority of its regular visitors. 

Coffee Houses & Pubs

      White House Pub (in the centre of the tourist area), in Rua da Casa Branca); Number 2 (nearby Pestana Madeira Carlton); Space Rocket Bar and Moynihan’s Irish Bar (both in Rua da Imperatriz Dona Amélia, nearby Casino Park Hotel); Café do Teatro (nearby the Municipal Theatre); and Bar do Museu (in the centre of the city – Largo do Colégio).

Bars & Night Clubs

If you want to enjoy live music, dance or have a drink  in a pleasant esplanade, try Bar da Cidade (in front of Hotel Savoy), Taverna Bar (inside Pestana Madeira Carlton) or FX Bar (in Avenida do Mar across the yacht-harbour).

Discos

There are several discos in the city, regarding different audiences. ‘Chameleon’ disco is frequented by people between 30-40 years old, and it is located near Pestana Madeira Carlton. ‘Copacabana’, in the basement of Casino da Madeira, is a big disco where you can enjoy live music up to 01:00, before the DJ sound.

In front of the jetty, ‘Marginal’ and ‘Jam’ are both opened from Wednesday to Sunday (from 24:00 to 06:00); the first is frequented by the younger and the second by people in their thirties. ‘Vespas’ disco (from Wednesdays to Sundays and the nights before holidays – 24:00 to 06:00) is the queen of Madeira nights. It is mostly frequented by teens and has survived all the fashions and times.

In the city of Machico, the evenings are also entertaining and worthy of your visit. Discoteca La Barca, a lively and large space, is located in Praceta 25 de Abril; Tuesday to Thursday it has live music and billiards; Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it is 100 per cent disco, and opens from 22:00 to 06:00.

Accompanying Service

Para este tipo de divertimento, o local indicado é o Clube Meia-noite, localizado no Entreposto da Cancela, entre o Funchal e o Caniço, aberto todos os dias das 23h00 às 06h00, com o telefone 96 8909704 www.escortmadeira.com