A 15th-century Portuguese navigator, whose ship washed up on the shores of an unknown island during a terrible storm, called it Madeira, which means “wood.” The uninhabited island was completely covered with dense forests, and appreciating the wonderful mild climate, settlers began to populate Madeira, gradually clearing the land of trees. Today, the Madeira Forest, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covers about 60% of the island, and there are many botanical gardens and parks. But this resort is famous not only for its lush vegetation: Madeira wine and fruits, as well as beaches and an amazingly comfortable climate attract tourists from all over the world.
Madeira acquired the title of resort city in the 19th century, when the island competed with the French Riviera in terms of the number of travelers it received. Today there are still many tourists in Madeira, but their presence does not affect the peace and tranquility inherent in a holiday on this island.
What to see in Madeira
The capital of the island, Funchal, is an ancient city with architectural monuments from Gothic to Mannerism. Cathedrals, the town hall, old quarters, a colorful market where you can buy products with famous local embroidery – all this will interest history buffs. The Botanical Garden with thousands of different trees and flowers and many parrots, as well as the Orchid Garden will attract lovers of beautiful nature. Hiking around the island is one of the favorite types of recreation for tourists: 5-10 kilometers you need to walk along paths leading through forests, past waterfalls, volcanic caves, along low mountains from which panoramic views of Madeira and the ocean open. The natural volcanic pools of Doco do Cavacas, which have direct access to the ocean, are another pearl of Madeira, where, by the way, beach recreation is not so developed due to the rocky coastline.
Christopher Columbus’s House
What to do in Porto Santo
But the neighboring island of the Porto Santo archipelago is a beach island. 9 kilometers of pure golden sand with healing properties and warm, calm water compensate for the apparent desertion and lack of entertainment. Water sports, paragliding, cycling tracks, fishing, botanical gardens and flower meadows are available on the beaches. The most famous place on the island: Columbus’s house. The great navigator lived here for several years after his marriage to the daughter of the governor of Madeira. Now a museum is opened in this house.
How to get there
The resort of Madeira is worth exploring.
You can get from Moscow to Madeira International Airport with one or two transfers at European airports. TAP Portugal has very favorable flight conditions; round trip tickets can be purchased from 26,500 rubles.
If you want to alternate walking with the comfort of traveling by car, OneTwoTrip offers the opportunity to rent a car. A car with a manual transmission will cost you from 2000 rubles per day, with an automatic transmission from 4000 rubles.
