Travel Guide to Madeira, Portugal

Madeira is the island of the eternal spring. This place became a well-known European resort yet in the XIX century. Madeira is a place where celebrities, lords and kings come to have some rest.

The island is located in the Atlantic Ocean. Its distance from Madeira to mainland Europe (Portugal is the closet one) is about 1000 km. The distance to Africa is around 700 km. The person who had discovered Madeira was Joao Goncalves Zarco. In 1419 he landed on this island while escaping from a huge storm. In those days the island was completely covered by impenetrable forests and this fact gave the name to the island as "Madeira" means "a tree, a forest". Near this island are located other islands of the archipelago - Porto Santo and several wild uninhabited islands like Selvagens and Desertas. Both islands are turned into nature reserves.

Visitors will also find a unique ancient forest named Laurisilva in Madeira. The forest appeared yet during the Tertiary era and managed to survive thanks to the moderate and mild climate.

Funchal is the capital of Madeira and an interesting place with numerous fascinating attractions like Se Cathedral made of lava with the ceiling inlaid with ivory and wood, Franciscan Monastery, the Santa Clara Church and the famous botanical gardens. The main attractions of the city include popular carnivals, the festival of the Atlantic Ocean and Columbus, the holiday of flowers and wine, as well as water rides along livada channels.