Portugal

Madeira (Funchal)

Nature in its purest form

Madeira and the Canary Islands are twin archipelagos that BinterCanarias connects in 80 minutes. In 2004, the Canary Islands airline started to offer pioneering direct flights to these Portuguese islands, notable for their green and steep landscapes, their well-known wines and embroidery and tourist attractions such as the Flower Festival. Being the home to one of the world's greatest footballers, Cristiano Ronaldo, has without doubt contributed to make this Macaronesian area more popular.

The Madeira archipelago has two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo. The capital is Funchal on Madeira, the largest island and the place where BinterCanarias aircraft land.

Funchal's old town: narrow, cobbled streets full of shops, restaurants and art galleries await you. In the Rua de Santa Maria the shops have decorated their entrance doors with murals created by various artists. Be sure to visit the Sé Cathedral and the fantastic Lavradores Market. If you take the funicular up to the Monte district, as well as admiring the famous "quintas" (old mansions) you can visit the tomb of Charles I of Habsburg (the last emperor of Austria) in the Church of Nostra Senhora do Monte. In the panoramic garden you can enjoy beautiful views over the Atlantic Ocean. You can also visit the forts of São Lourenço and São Tiago, which are home to museums and have a privileged view.

Bodegas Blandy: offer a guided tour lasting about an hour. Being in the heart of the capital, many tourists come here attracted by the ancestral fame of the island's wines.

Marine Promenade: this avenue links the Lido area with Praia Formosa, a beautiful beach of creeks at the western end of Funchal. It is bordered by splendid botanical gardens and offers stunning views of the sea and Cabo Girão.

Santa Catarina Park: from the peaceful benches of its paths you can enjoy beautiful views over the bay of Funchal. Plant species from all over the world provide shade during the walk.

Monte Palace Tropical Garden: one of the island's essential visits. Located in the Monte district, it opened its gates in 1991 and includes one of the most important tile collections in Portugal, displayed amid a superb display of tropical plant life. Let yourself be swept away by its magic and dedicate as much time as necessary to the pleasure of strolling and observing.

Botanical Garden: it boasts more than 2,000 plant species as well as a unique colour and harmony in its forms. Besides being one of the islanders' favourite places for recreation, it is also a cultural and scientific centre.

The Ilhas Desertas: this group of small islets preserves the last refuge of the monk seal in the entire Atlantic Ocean. It is therefore protected as a Nature Reserve.

Beaches: the jewel of the archipelago is to be found on the island of Porto Santo. On the beach of the same name, nine kilometres long and with fine white sand, you'll think you're visiting a tropical paradise. On the other hand, Madeira Island is not exactly known for its beaches, although the mild climate may invite you to visit Ribeira Brava, Praia Formosa, Praia de Calheta, Jardim do Mar or Ponta do Sol. Some of them are artificial and others are creeks, so many people opt for the natural pools. Swimming in the pools formed between the volcanic lava flows is quite an experience.

In Funchal's old town, in the hotel zone and in the Marina you'll find taverns and restaurants where you can sample island and international dishes. Be careful if you stumble across a place full of Madeirans; it's probably a good, cheap place.

The star dish of the islands' cuisine is, of course, a fish recipe: swordfish. You'll see it served in a variety of ways, but the traditional way is to serve it with fried plantain. Caldeira de peixe is a fish, sweet potato, tomato and onion soup that will lift your spirits after a hard day's sightseeing. Also very typical are limpets grelhadas, although it is not always easy to find a place where they are served.

If you're in the mood for meat, the espetada will satisfy your appetite. This is a large skewer of veal skewered on a laurel branch and grilled with laurel wood. Don't be fooled by its name, there's nothing vegetarian about caldo verde. It is a mixture of black pudding and chorizo sausage accompanied by green cabbage and mashed potatoes.

Other traditional dishes include Madeira soup and fried polenta. The latter is an excellent accompaniment to both meat and fish, and we can't forget the ubiquitous bolo do caco, which you can buy from stalls scattered around the streets of the city. It is a kind of bread that is heated, opened and spread with whatever we ask for, usually garlic butter. It usually appears on all restaurant menus and is ordered as a starter.

For desserts, we recommend the bolo de mel and the broas de mel, which, as you might have guessed, are delicious pastries flavoured with the sweet product of bees.

And to accompany all this, there's nothing better than Madeira wine, since Shakespeare praised it in his plays and it was consumed by the European courts. You'll find more alcoholic strength in poncha (white rum, lemon juice and sugar cane honey) and ginja (a bitter cherry liqueur).

Lush nature, spectacular landscapes, the famous "quintas" and some of the most beautiful gardens in Portugal. These are just some of the secrets that await you in this archipelago of five islands, two of which are inhabited. Madeira, the largest, is one of the most important tourist centres in Portugal. As soon as you land at the airport of Funchal, the capital on the shores of the Atlantic, you will begin to discover why.

Madeira (Funchal)

Nature in its purest form

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