If you love Madeira Wine and Madeira Cake, buy it fresh and come visit the country of Madeira! It was traditionally known to the Romans as the Purple Islands and to this day, Madeira is a regular holiday hotspot for many tourists. Whether you love lying on the beach or partaking in diving, sailing and windsurfing, Madeira is just an amazing location for you.
Madeira boasts some of the best hotels in the world, including the famous Reid’s Palace, which has been one of the island’s classic landmarks for over a century.
Due to the country’s sensational scenery, walking has long been a favourite pastime for those on holidays in Madeira. The Levadas (irrigation channels) that criss cross the island form a network of trails that take you through spectacular volcanic landscapes.
Although Madeira is part of Portugal, it is actually considerably nearer to Africa than Lisbon. The temperature in Madeira rarely dips below 18°C. Its isolated but strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean made Madeira an important staging post for explorers and traders as they head up and down the African coast. Consequently, Madeira is abound with colourful plants and trees from all over the world.
To decide when to visit, it must be said that between February and March, the Carnival takes place with events happening all over the island. There are a number of processions through Funchal, including a day where the public are invited to dress up and join in! There is a flower festival during April, which is two days of decorated floats travelling through the town. The Atlantic Festival runs through June and is a mix of classical concerts and fire displays that take place over four weekends. And these are just some of the events that happen on the island of Madeira.
Madeira is an upmarket tourist destination with a wonderful subtropical climate and breathtaking scenery. With its colour and culture, you can’t help be seduced by the destination, and want to come back for more and more. Whether you want to laze on the beaches, join in with the festivals, or simply check out the Sub tropical flora and fauna, there is really something to make your holiday in Madeira fun and varied.