Madeira or Autonomous Region of Madeira is a region and archipelago located
in the Atlantic Ocean, with the capital located in the city of Funchal, with
250,769 inhabitants in 2021, being the sixth most populous region in the
country, with a population density of 313 inhabitants per km2 , being the
second largest urban area in the country, and a total area of 801 km2, being
the seventh largest region in the country.
It is one of the seven
regions of Portugal, consisting of 54 parishes, comprising 11 municipalities
and being at the same time constituted by the same and only subregion,
having the same name.
The Political-Administrative Statute of the
Autonomous Region of Madeira is one of the two national autonomous regional
governments, which coordinates the policies of the region.
It is a
tourist archipelago throughout the year, due to its climate with mild
temperatures in both winter and summer and also famous for its spectacular
fireworks display in the New Year, classified as the largest fireworks
display in the world on New Year's Eve. from 2006 to 2007. They are also
known worldwide for their characteristic liqueur wine known worldwide
Madeira Wine, for their flowers and for their landscapes with steep
mountains, green and flowery valleys, the panorama of the sea and the
coastal cliffs and for its beaches of golden sand of the island of Porto
Santo and for being the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo, considered the best
Portuguese football player ever.
The Madeira Archipelago is divided into several islands, although only
two are inhabited:
Madeira Island (the largest on the map);
Porto
Santo Island (the smallest on the map).
The Madeira Archipelago
also contains the following sets of islands, which are uninhabited:
Savage Islands
desert islands
The administrative division of the archipelago consists of 11
municipalities:
Calheta. Chamber of Wolves. Funchal. Machico.
Ponta do Sol. Porto Moniz. Porto Santo. Ribeira Brava. Holy Cross.
Santana. Saint Vincent
Madeira Natural Park
Desertas Islands Nature Reserve
Selvagens
Islands Nature Reserve
Pico do Arieiro, in the heart of the island
Ponta de São Lourenço, near Machico.
Cabo Girão, near Câmara de
Lobos.
By airplane
Being a "pearl" in the Atlantic Ocean, the easiest way
to reach Madeira Island is by plane.
A flight to Madeira takes
about 1h30 from Portuguese airports, and a little over 3 hours
approximately from the main airports in central Europe. Flights between
Madeira and Porto Santo take 15 minutes. The archipelago's airports are
Madeira International Airport (about a 20-minute drive from Funchal) and
Porto Santo Airport.
Madeira Airport - The following companies
fly frequently (Regular Flights) to Madeira Airport:
• Aigle Azur •
Air Berlin • Air Nostrum • Austrian Airlines . Binter Canarias • Condor
• Finnair • Hapag Lloyd / TUIFly • Luxair • Niki Luftfahrt GmbH • Sata
Air Açores • Sata Internacional • Tap Portugal
Of boat
The
port of Funchal is part of the cruise circuits that run between Madeira
and the Canary Islands and North Africa. There are also some traffic
lines that operate from the Western Mediterranean or the Atlantic coast
of Europe, namely from Lisbon. Funchal is also an important port of call
for transoceanic voyages, linked to the annual repositioning of ships
between the U.S. and the United States. and Europe and vice versa. As
far as maritime connections are concerned, the Port of Funchal
[www.apram.pt] is a cruise port par excellence, serving as a point of
arrival and departure to other destinations. Frequently visited by
cruise ships, the ports of Funchal and Porto Santo serve as a point of
arrival to the islands and a point of departure to other destinations.
Daily connections between islands take about 2h30 by a "Lobo
Marinho" ferryboat, which also allows the transport of vehicles. The
Spanish shipping company Naviera Armas operates, throughout the year, a
ferry service for passengers and vehicles, between the ports of Tenerife
and Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands, and Portimão, in the Algarve,
with a stopover in Porto do Funchal in both directions. It is therefore
possible to arrive in Madeira by car.
Between islands
There is a ferry between the island of Porto Santo
and Madeira, with a duration of two hours. To see .
SATA offers
several flights between the airports on the two islands, with a duration
of approximately twenty minutes. For more information, visit the
airline's website.
Inside Madeira Island
Buses
If you
prefer to use public transport, there are several bus companies that, in
a more economical way, can take you to the points of greatest tourist
interest. . Funchal timetables [http://www.horariosdofunchal.pt/ .
southwest. SAM. Caniço Bus Company.
Taxis
Taxis are available
at Madeira Airport, at the main hotels and on several streets in the
city of Funchal, with a ticket cost of EUR 2.00. On weekdays between
22:00 and 07:00, on Saturdays, Sundays and official holidays, the ticket
price is EUR 2.40. An amount not exceeding 50% will be charged on
luggage that exceeds 30kg and subject to prior arrangement. In the other
municipalities you will find letter A taxis (without a taximeter) with a
price of EUR 0.63 per kilometer, with a minimum charge.
Rent a
car
Renting a car is a great way to see the island. All European road
rules apply on the island of Madeira. Bear in mind that the island is
mountainous and the roads have many unevenness and curves and are
sometimes narrow.
Inside Porto Santo Island
Bus (City
Center next to the gas station) - Tel.: 291 982780 / 291 982403.
Taxis
Taxis are available at Porto Santo Airport, at the main hotels
and on several streets in the city of Vila Baleira, with a fare of EUR
2.00. On weekdays between 22:00 and 07:00, on Saturdays, Sundays and
official holidays, the ticket price is EUR 2.40. An amount not exceeding
50% will be charged on luggage that exceeds 30kg and subject to prior
arrangement. (Taxis Square: Av. Dr. Manuel Gregório Pestana Junior) -
Tel.: 291 982334
Renting a car - Porto Santo has a good road
network, which connects the main points of the island. Several companies
rent cars in Porto Santo.
In Madeira, as in the rest of Portugal, the official language is Portuguese. However, English, French and Spanish are also understood by a large part of the population.
Flowers
fruits
Madeira wine
wicker
wood embroidery
Madeira Botanical Garden - About 3 km from Funchal, it
is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. The
exuberant vegetation forms colorful gardens, making this one of the
biggest attractions of the archipelago. In the garden there are more
than 2000 plants.
Cabo Girão -It is a mandatory stop for anyone
visiting the island of Madeira. It is the highest promontory in Europe
and the second highest in the world with 580 meters of altitude. This
viewpoint offers wide panoramic views over Câmara de Lobos and Funchal,
as well as a magnificent view over the sea.
In 2003, an elevator was
built there to access the fajãs of Cabo Girão, which until then were
only accessible by boat. Its name - Girão - was given by João Gonçalves
Zarco, due to the fact that it served as a reference point at the end of
the tour, on the first day of reconnaissance of the coast of Madeira.
São Vicente Caves - Impressive volcanic caves where you can see lava
tubes. It is a unique experience and a must visit in Madeira.
Monte
Palace Gardens - The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is located in Quinta
Monte Palace, owned by the José Berardo Foundation. The vegetation of
this Garden has been augmented with plants from all over the world.
About 100,000 plant species have already been planted, including
azaleas, heathers, and different trees, in addition to a wide variety of
ferns. The garden also features a collection of cycads (encephalartos)
which, due to their age, are considered living fossils. Of the 72 known
species, this garden has about 60 varieties.
It also features a space
dedicated to Madeiran flora, where most of the Macaronesian Laurisilva
varieties can be found, as well as other endangered species, such as
Pittosporum coriaceum, popularly known as "Mocano".
Madeira Story
Center - It is one of the best ways to discover the history of Madeira.
The Center includes several exhibitions: "Volcanic Origins", "Legends of
the Discovery", "The Discovery of Madeira", "The Commercial Turmoil",
"The Strategic Island", "Development of Madeira", "After Navigation" and
"Explore the wood".
Viewpoints - There are numerous and beautiful
viewpoints throughout the islands, but the best known are: Pico dos
Barcelos, Pico do Arieiro, Pico do Facho, Curral das Freiras, Monte,
Eira do Serrado and Cabo Girão.
Ponta de São Lourenço - This is a
peninsula of volcanic origin, mostly basaltic, giving it an arid
appearance, with low vegetation and an absence of trees that contrasts
completely with the rest of the island's landscape. Going down the slope
you will find an isolated beach called Prainha, which is the only
natural black sand beach on the island, usually very popular with locals
and tourists for swimming.
• Santana Theme Park - The Madeira Theme
Park, located in the city of Santana, and unique in Portugal, presents
itself as a fantastic exhibition site dedicated to the history, science
and tradition of the Madeira Archipelago. This enclosure, with an area
of 145 thousand square meters, is a must visit place.
Walks - To reach the interior of Madeira Island and
enjoy an unknown and stunning landscape, there is nothing better than
walking through the paths and “levadas”.
When walking through these
primitive irrigation canals, the visitor will come across breathtaking
landscapes. In a total of 1500 km, through valleys and mountains,
Madeira's "levadas" allow access to the heart of the island. They form
part of a set of protected areas, of which the Natural Park of Madeira
and the Ecological Park of Funchal stand out. Most routes are accessible
to anyone, although there are varying degrees of difficulty. Through
these magnificent walks, we can glimpse breathtaking landscapes in a
perfect encounter with nature. From the deep blue of the sea to the
green of the high mountains, the thrill from 0 to 1862 meters is
guaranteed!
Boat Trips - Discover Madeira from a new perspective.
The panoramic view over the coast from the sea enhances the beauty of
this charming island. You can also plan a trip to the Desertas Islands
to discover the Atlantic refuge of the Monk Seal (Monachus Monachus),
better known as Lobo Marinho, or observe other species of marine fauna
such as dolphins and, with some luck, whales.
Diving - Let yourself
be enveloped by the waters of the Atlantic and get to know a curious
submerged world. Get to know some of the Natural Reserves that are
attractive for diving. The passivity of the fish, used to living with
divers, allows the freedom to swim among them, with good opportunities
for aquatic photography.
Surfing and Windsurfing - The Madeiran
waters lend themselves to this purpose. The coasts of Jardim do Mar,
Paul do Mar and S. Vicente are excellent for surfing, with waves capable
of giving even the most experienced surfers strong emotions. The
conditions for windsurfing are excellent and proof of this is the
consecration, in 1996, of a young Madeiran as world champion in this
modality. The year-round subtropical climate and excellent surfing
conditions attract surfers every year. It is a paradise for experienced
surfers, with waves reaching 8 meters in height. Paul do Mar is one of
the best places to surf.
Praia de Porto Santo - With 9 km of beach,
on this beach, health and well-being go hand in hand, since, in addition
to the transparency of the water, it has indisputable therapeutic
properties. Discover the benefits of this serene and inviting beach and
surrender to relaxation, recovering the energy and motivation you need.
Tourist Entertainment Companies - (For lovers of active tourism, the Madeiran archipelago offers exceptional natural conditions for the practice of land sports, with special emphasis on walking tours, which have numerous routes, between levadas and trails, and offer spectacular and unique in contact with the Laurissilva Forest – World Natural Heritage by UNESCO.The particular orography of this island also offers spectacular conditions for trekking, climbing, abseiling, canyoning, all-terrain bicycles, among other activities.
Like an eternal spring, Madeira is par excellence the
year-round golf destination. Two distinct islands, three magnificent
golf courses, and a range of accommodation, leisure and well-being that
appeal to all golfers.
The island of Madeira has a beauty and climate
that gives it unique characteristics. The tradition of golf on the
island of Madeira dates back to 1937. On this island you can play on one
of the two courses, Palheiro Golf and Clube de Golfe do Santo da Serra,
with 18 and 27 holes, both notable for the beauty of their settings.
Golf Santo da Serra (Santo António da Serra 9200-152 Machico;
Tel.:(+351) 291 550 100; reservations@santodaserragolf.com).
Golf
Palheiro, (Rua do Balancal, 29, 9060-414 Funchal; Tel.: (+351) 291 790
120; Reservations: (+351) 291 792 456).
On the island of Porto
Santo, 40 km from Madeira, try the 27-hole course designed by the famous
golfer Severiano Ballesteros. Unlike Madeira Island, Porto Santo's 9 km
of beach and clear waters will taste good after a round of golf.
The
Madeira Islands Open is the most important golf tournament held annually
in Madeira and is part of the European PGA.
Golf Porto Santo,
(Sítio das Marinhas Apartado 174 9400-162 Porto Santo; Tel.: (+351) 291
983 778 / 291 982 628; sdps@netmadeira.com)
Madeiran gastronomy is very vast. Although the
starters are not the main course, in the restaurants you will be served
a bolo do caco (bread cooked on a griddle) with garlic butter or grilled
limpets, served with plenty of garlic and lemon juice. Other specialties
include tomato and onion soup served with a poached egg, wheat soup and
açorda, a dish made with bread, garlic, poached egg, savory and olive
oil - all "watered down" with very hot water.
The most famous
traditional meat dishes on the island are espetada, meat with wine and
garlic, chopped and many grilled meat dishes. Meat dishes are usually
accompanied by fried corn, as well as carrots, green beans, zucchini,
pimpernel, peas and sweet potatoes.
Fish is present in the most
traditional dishes on the island. Tuna, swordfish, cod, skipjack and
squid include the fish most often served in Madeiran restaurants. Some
common dishes are Espada with banana, usually served with fresh salad
and potatoes, and Codfish with cream.
The regional sweets are
very plentiful, especially the queijadas (cakes made with cream cheese,
eggs and sugar), honey cakes (one of the oldest sweets in Madeira) and
passion fruit pudding.
Also famous is Madeira wine, dry wine,
"nikita" (a drink made with beer, pineapple juice, ice cream and
pineapple), "pé-de-cabra" (black beer, dry wine, powdered chocolate and
sugar), as well as traditional poncha (cane brandy, honey, lemon juice
and sometimes orange juice) and passion fruit poncha.
Wine - Madeira wine is famous all over the world.
There are four different varieties of the famous Madeira Wine, to be
savored as an aperitif or at the end of a meal, presenting themselves as
historical choices, namely Malvasia (also known as Malmsey or Malvazia),
the sweetest, Bual (or Boal), medium-sweet, Verdelho, medium-dry, and
Sercial, the driest of all.
Poncha - A drink made with sugar cane
brandy, honey and lemon. There is a wide range of poncha varieties,
passion fruit poncha, tangerine poncha, tomato poncha, whiskey poncha,
absinthe poncha, strawberry poncha, kiwi poncha, among others.
Nikita
- A drink made with beer, pineapple juice, ice cream and pineapple.
Madeira offers a wide range of quality accommodation
for all tastes and budgets, where hospitality, personalized service,
good taste and quality are the dominant characteristics. The option will
always have a common element to all choices: the art of hospitality. The
offer of accommodation is quite wide, from the refinement of
centuries-old traditional hotels, the modernity of five-star hotels, the
friendly hospitality of rural tourism houses, which allow close contact
with nature, or even the welcoming and traditional Madeiran farms.
Quintas da Madeira - Time passes silently by them. Witnesses of
other centuries, the Quintas da Madeira keep the history of those who
gave them life and name. Families of European nobility found in Madeira
the place where they could give form to the dream of a lifetime. Sea and
land as far as the eye can see, century-old trees and a house with
palace refinements was all they needed to feel at home.
The Quintas
in Madeira reveal a lifestyle rooted in the feudal system. Centuries
passed, memories remain. Each farm has a story to tell. The trees in the
gardens and the interiors of the houses are fragments of a life. They
are joined by other episodes made of new things.
To get to know
all that Quintas da Madeira have to offer takes time. Time for a stroll
through the gardens. Time to enjoy a good Madeira wine.
To enjoy a holiday in more direct contact with the people, their habits and customs, and with Nature itself, you can choose to stay in a Rural Tourism unit (TER), a type of accommodation that includes several classifications, from rural hotels to more rustic or family units, characterized by welcoming and conviviality with the owners of accommodation units.
Security
Crime in Madeira is very low.
Hospital Dr. Nelio Mendonça (Avenida Luís de Camões, nº 57 – 904-514
Funchal ; tel. (+351) 291 705600)
Hospital dos Marmeleiros (Estrada
dos Marmeleiros - Funchal; tel. (+351) 291 705730)
Porto Santo Health
Center (Porto Santo Island - tel. (+351) 291 980060)
Keep in touch
The international access code for Madeira is +351 and the access code
for the islands is 291.
The Madeira Archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean. The nearest
tourist destinations are:
Canary Islands - Isolated in the middle
of the Atlantic, they are an autonomous region of Spain. Its largest
cities are Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Tenerife is popular for its fantastic beaches, mountain scenery and
vibrant nightlife.
Azores - A very touristic archipelago, with
several cities, including Angra do Heroísmo, one of the most important,
and a World Heritage Site. The islands are very visited for whale
watching and for their historical heritage, visible on all islands.
For information on how to get to these destinations, see Getting There
One of the historians' theories is that the islands of Madeira and
Porto Santo were first discovered by the Romans and that they became
known as the "Purple Islands", but this is a subject relatively debated
among historians and no consensus has been found, given the power refer
to other islands further south. Later the archipelago was then
rediscovered by the Portuguese who first discovered the island of Porto
Santo in 1418 through João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira;
then Madeira Island in 1419, through Bartolomeu Perestrelo, João
Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira.
The islands of the
Madeira archipelago would already be known before the arrival of the
Portuguese, if we believe in references present in works, as well as in
their representation in geographical maps. Among the works that refer to
Madeira, passages from the Libro del Conoscimiento (after 1385), a work
by a Spaniard, in which the islands are referred to by the names of
"Leiname", "Diserta" and "Puerto Santo" in 1419, stand out.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the islands may have been visited
by Vikings sometime between 900 and 1030.
In 1418 the island of Porto Santo was discovered by João Gonçalves
Zarco and by Tristão Vaz Teixeira. In the following year these
navigators, accompanied by Bartolomeu Perestrelo, arrived in Madeira
Island, more precisely in the Municipality of Machico.
Having
noted the potential of the islands, as well as their strategic
importance, colonization began around 1425, which would have been an
initiative of D. João I or Infante D. Henrique.
The three
captain-donatários took, on the first trip, their respective families, a
small group of people from the minor nobility, people of modest
conditions and some former prisoners of the kingdom. The first settlers
came from the Algarve region and later from the northern region of the
continent.
From the Algarve, some of the main colonizers left,
with important functions in the implementation of the foundations of the
landlord system. We can also mention in this process the north of
Portugal, namely the region of Entre Douro e Minho, origin of those who
intervened specifically in the organization of the agricultural space.
From the Algarve, from the towns of Tavira, Lagos, Silves, Aljezur
and Sagres, there is also the movement of several people towards the new
islands of the Kingdom. There are servants, squires, knights and nobles
who marked the beginning of the settlement, which quickly spread
geographically to other areas, such as Santa Cruz, Câmara de Lobos,
Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol and Calheta.
In order to obtain the
minimum conditions for the development of agriculture, they had to cut
down part of the dense laurissilva forest and build a large number of
water pipes (levadas), since in one part of the island there was excess
water while in another it was scarce. In the early days, fish was the
main means of subsistence for the settlers, as well as fruit and
vegetable products.
From 1440 onwards, the regime of captaincies
was established with the investiture of Tristão Vaz Teixeira as
captain-donatory of the captaincy of Machico; six years later Bartolomeu
Perestrelo became captain-donate of Porto Santo and in 1450 Zarco was
invested captain-doneary of the captaincy of Funchal.
The first local agricultural activity of great importance was the
cereal cultivation of wheat. Initially, the colonizers produced wheat
for their own subsistence, but later it became an export product for the
kingdom.
However, inexplicably, cereal production fell. To
overcome the crisis, Infante D. Henrique decided to have sugar cane
planted on the island of Madeira — rare in Europe and, therefore,
considered a spice —, promoting, for this purpose, the arrival, from
Sicily, of the first ratoon. plant and technicians specialized in this
culture. The production of sugar quickly gave the Funchal metropolis
frank economic prosperity. This fact meant that, in the second half of
the 15th century, the city of Funchal became a mandatory port of call
for European trade routes. The culture of sugarcane was, par excellence,
a driver of the island economy.
With the production of sugar
cane, Madeira attracted and settled adventurers and traders from the
most remote origins, and this exploration was considered, at the time,
as the main engine of the Madeiran economy. There were many European
merchants who traveled to the region for the sugar business, mainly
Genoese and Flemish.
The cultivation of sugarcane and the sugar
production industry would develop until the 17th century, followed by
the processing industry — the sugar cane plantations — extracting the
juice and then annealing the honeys. as the refining phase was then
called.
Apparently it is in Madeira that, in the context of sugar
production, black slave labor was used for the first time. The colonial
system of sugar production was put into practice on the island of
Madeira, on a much smaller scale, and will be successively applied, on a
large scale, in other overseas production areas, as is the greatest
example in Brazil.
In the second half of the 16th century, there
was a decline in sugar production on the island. Sugarcane on the island
begins to show disease and, at the same time, there is also strong
competition from new producing territories, mainly Brazil.
From
the 17th century onwards, wine was the most important product of
Madeiran exploration, since the cultivation of sugar cane had meanwhile
been transferred to Brazil (from 1530) and to São Tomé and Príncipe.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the structure of the "city of wine
overlapped the city of sugar". With the decline of sugar production, at
the end of the 16th century, sugarcane plantations were replaced by
vineyards, giving rise to the so-called Wine Cycle which,
internationally, important English merchants settled on the Island who,
little by little, ended up controlling the ever-increasing most
important insular wine trade.
In the 18th and 19th centuries,
visitors to the island ranged from patients, travelers, tourists and
scientists. Most visitors belonged to the wealthy European aristocracy,
namely princes, princesses and monarchs who found Madeira Island,
essentially a therapeutic port.
As a result of the high demand at
the time, there was a need to produce informative guides for visitors.
The first Madeira tourist guide appeared in 1850, and already focused on
elements about the history, geology, flora, fauna and customs of the
island.
The British and the Germans were the first to lay the
foundations for the construction of the Madeiran hotel network.
Madeira also served as a model for the colonization of Brazil, based
on hereditary captaincies and sesmarias, as attested by the appointment
of Pero de Góis by D. João III, on August 25, 1536, when the king
determined that he would hold the position of way it should be done and
how the provider of my farm in Madeira is.
In Brazil, Madeirans
also played an important role in the Pernambucan Insurrection against
the Dutch occupation.
During the 15th century Madeira played an
important role in the Portuguese discoveries. It also became famous for
the trade routes that connected the port of Funchal to the whole of
Europe. And it was in the archipelago of Madeira that the merchant
Cristóvão Columbus deepened his knowledge of the art of sailing and
planned his famous voyage to America.
In the 17th and 18th
centuries, a serious economic and food crisis motivated the Madeiran
diaspora. Thousands of families left for the colonies. In Madeira, the
people suffered from hunger and misery. In 1747, D. João V ordered the
voluntary recruitment of couples to populate the island of Santa
Catarina. In 1751, Governor Manuel Saldanha da Gama writes: In some
ports on the Island, the people only ate roots, broom flowers and
fruits. In the same year, King D. José ordered the recruitment, in the
city of Funchal alone, of a thousand couples without means of
subsistence to promote the settlement of the colonies, mainly in Brazil.
The population of the Madeira archipelago has historically followed
Roman Catholicism, although nowadays this identification tends to be, in
part, nominal.
The Diocese of Funchal was created on June 12,
1514 through the bull Pro Excellenti Praeeminentia of Pope Leo X, as a
result of a request from King Manuel I. In 1536, Pope Paul III dismissed
the bishopric from the Order of Christ . This diocese, whose first
bishop was Diogo Pinheiro, had the largest jurisdiction in the world, as
it was extended to territories with Portuguese presence in Africa,
Brazil, India and China. In 1533, Pope Clement VII would raise the
diocese to an archbishopric, which would be extinguished in 1551, making
the diocese dependent again on the archbishopric of Lisbon. In 1991,
Madeira received the visit of Pope John Paul II, the first Pope to visit
the island. D. António José Cavaco Carrilho has been the bishop of the
diocese since May 2007, succeeding D. Teodoro de Faria who resigned
because he had already exceeded the canonical age to hold the position.
On February 20, 2010, a strong storm caused flooding and landslides, causing at least 48 deaths and around 250 injuries. The most affected municipalities were Funchal and Ribeira Brava, where several bridges collapsed and roads and paths gave way or were washed away. In Funchal, the three largest rivers overflowed, causing great destruction. Several houses were buried by landslides, and the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, on Monte, was washed away. The Portuguese government declared three days of national mourning.
The Madeira archipelago is located on the African plate, in the
Atlantic Ocean between 30° and 33° north latitude, 978 km southwest of
Lisbon, about 700 km west of the African coast, almost at the same
latitude as Casablanca and 450 km north of the Canaries.
Of
volcanic origin, it is formed by:
Madeira Island (740.7 km²);
Porto Santo (42.5 km²);
Desert Islands (14.2 km²) - 2 uninhabited
islands and 1 inhabited (only by Nature Watchers or even biologists or
geologists for studies);
Selvagens Islands (3.6 km²) - 2 islands
inhabited (only by Nature Watchers or Maritime Police) and 17
uninhabited islets.
Of the seven islands, only the two largest
(Madeira and Porto Santo) are inhabited, with the main accesses being
Madeira Airport in Funchal and Porto Santo. By sea, Funchal has a port
that receives several ships, mainly cruises; and three of the remaining
islands are inhabited by nature watchers, biologists/geologists and
Maritime Police who protect these natural reserves (Reserva Natural das
Ilhas Desertas and Reserva Natural das Ilhas Selvagens).
The territory of the archipelago contains two main islands: Madeira
Island and Porto Santo Island; besides these, there are two groups of
islands, the Desertas Islands and the Selvagens Islands.
Madeira
Island has a very rugged terrain, with the highest points being Pico
Ruivo (1,862 m), Pico das Torres (1,851 m) and Pico do Arieiro (1,818
m). The north coast is dominated by high cliffs and in the western part
of the island there is a plateau region, Paul da Serra (1 300–1 500 m).
The relief, as well as the exposure to the prevailing winds, mean
that the island has different micro-climates which, combined with the
exotic vegetation, is an important attraction factor for tourism, the
region's main activity. Precipitation is higher on the north coast than
on the south coast. There are no major thermal variations throughout the
year, maintaining a mild climate.
The island of Porto Santo, on
the other hand, has a geomorphological constitution completely different
from that of the island of Madeira. Very flat, it has a sparse
vegetation cover with poor soils not suitable for agriculture. It has a
9 km long beach of fine golden sand of organic origin (limestone),
unlike the beaches of mainland Portugal which are of siliceous
(inorganic) origin, and is an increasingly popular regional, national
and international tourist resort. internationally. This island has some
peaks, especially to the north, with Pico do Facho (517 m) being the
highest point.
The Madeira archipelago is part of Macaronesia and is located on the
African plate. It is located at one end of the Tore mountain range
(submarine), NE/SW direction. It is considered a hot spot, hence its
volcanic nature and the NE direction that the archipelago draws.
In summary, the archipelago has its genesis during the creation of the
North Atlantic, starting to develop during the Cretaceous period,
approximately 130 million years ago.
The island of Porto Santo
was the first to form, 19 million years ago, during the Miocene,
emerging 11 million years later (8 million years ago). The most recent
is the island of Madeira, with the same date of formation, having
emerged during the transition from the Miocene to the Pliocene,
approximately 5 million years ago, currently presenting a less eroded
relief than the other islands.
From its emergence until now, five
phases related to the volcanism of its formation can be highlighted,
particularly visible in different parts of Madeira Island:
Base
formation, characterized by large eruptions and expulsion of material,
which ended 3 million years ago.
Formation of the periphery, where
there is a significant decrease in the previous conditions, with the
formation of some dykes and plateaus, which ended 740 thousand years
ago.
Formations of the high zones, marked by the continuation of the
expulsion of pyroclastic material and formation of the cliffs of the
north and south coasts, which oscillate between 400 and 900 m. This
stage ended approximately 620,000 years ago.
Formations of Paul da
Serra basalts due to a crack in Bica da Cana 550,000 years ago.
Recent eruptions, which practically define the islands. The most recent
magmatic fluids are located in this phase, which ended 6,500 years ago.
Constant volcanism, added to erosion and tectonic movements, shaped
the different islands of the archipelago into what they are today,
giving it the orientation it has, coinciding with the movement of the
African plate.
Despite having a population density (about 300 inhab/km²) higher than
the average for the country and even the EU, 75% of the population of
the island of Madeira lives in just 35% of the territory, mainly on the
south coast, where the city is located. from Funchal, capital of the
Autonomous Region of Madeira, which concentrates 45% of the population
(130,000 inhabitants), with a population density of 1,500
inhabitants/km². It is also in this area that most of the hotels are
located.
The foreign population residing in Madeira was set at
6,720 in 2017, which represents a 10% increase compared to the same
period last year. The community from Venezuela has the highest
expression with 14.4%, followed by the United Kingdom (14.2%), Brazil
(12.1%), and Germany (7.0%). In 2017, the Venezuelan community grew from
703 to 970, which represents an increase of 38%. It is also worth
mentioning the rises of communities in the United Kingdom, Germany, and
Brazil. Funchal concentrates 59.2% of the foreign community residing in
Madeira, Santa Cruz (13.8%) and Calheta (7.3%).
The population of
the Madeira archipelago is traditionally a follower of Roman
Catholicism, although nowadays this identification tends to be, in part,
nominal.
According to Resident Population Estimates, on 31
December 2014, 258 686 people resided in the Autonomous Region of
Madeira (RAM), of which 121 068 were men and 137 618 women, translating
into an effective growth rate of -1. 0%. Thus, the trend of population
decrease started in 2011 is maintained, which, in this period, meant a
reduction of 2 627 people compared to 2013.
The population
decrease was predominantly due to a negative migratory balance of 1 634
people and an equally negative natural balance of 993 fewer people. With
the exception of the municipality of Santa Cruz, all other
municipalities in RAM showed negative effective growth rates, with the
largest population decreases being observed in the municipalities of
Porto Moniz and São Vicente, of -2.4% and -2.1 %, respectively.
In 2014, the population density of RAM was 324.4 inhab/km2. Funchal was
the municipality with the highest value (1 409.3 inhabitants/km2),
contrasting with Porto Moniz, which had 30.1 inhabitants/km2.
In
this reference year, the proportion of young people (population under 15
years of age) represented 15.2% of the total population (15.7% in 2013)
and the elderly (population aged 65 years and over) increased to 15. 2%
(14.9% in 2013). The aging index remains below 100, standing at 99.8
elderly people for every 100 young people (95.0 in 2013).
As in
2013, the fertility rate reached, in 2014, a value below the unit,
standing at 0.95 children per woman (0.98 in 2013).
Since 1976, Madeira has been an autonomous region of the Portuguese
Republic. It has governing bodies such as the Legislative Assembly of
Madeira and the Regional Government. The Portuguese State is represented
in the region by the Representative of the Republic for the Autonomous
Region of Madeira, a position held by Ireneu Cabral Barreto.
The
Legislative Assembly is a unicameral parliament currently composed of 47
deputies. Deputies are elected for a four-year term on lists presented
by the parties in a single constituency (unlike what was the case until
the 2004 elections, where constituencies corresponded to municipalities
and the number of deputies was 68).
The parties present in the
Autonomous Region of Madeira are linked to the major parties of the
Portuguese political spectrum.
Agriculture was historically the dominant sector in the Madeiran
economy, from which most of the population lived. Despite the volcanic
soil being fertile, the mountainous relief (which led to planting in
terraces or poios as they are known regionally) prevents mechanization.
In terms of the organization of the agricultural space, three floors
can be distinguished. In the low-altitude lands next to the sea are
located the highest yielding crops, such as Madeira banana, custard
apple, mango, sugar cane and passion fruit and other tropical species.
At the intermediate level there are food crops such as potatoes, beans,
wheat and maize and fruit trees from the Mediterranean region (fig tree,
medlar), in a polyculture system. At higher altitudes there are
pastures, pine forests and forests. The island of Madeira is famous for
the quality of its anona fruits, which are grown up to an altitude of
550 m above sea level on the south coast of the island and up to 280 m
above sea level in the north of the island.
Livestock farming
complements agricultural activity. The predominant type of livestock is
sheep and goats, with a smaller presence of cattle. In addition to their
role in food, cattle provide natural fertilizer.
Fishing uses
artisanal methods. The main species caught are tuna and swordfish.
Currently, tourism constitutes an average source of income for the
Madeiran economy. In the agricultural sector, banana production aimed
primarily at regional and national consumption, flowers and the famous
Madeira wine also make an important contribution to the regional
economy.
The industrial activity in the R.A.M. has become increasingly
diversified, with small industries still standing out, such as those
aimed at local consumption (pasta, dairy products, production and
packaging of sugar, cement, among others) and those of a craft nature:
embroidery Wood, upholstery and wickerwork.
The existing industry
is concentrated in the municipalities of Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, Santa
Cruz and Machico.
Contributing in a very positive way to the
economic development of Madeira, the activity carried out by the Zona
Franca Industrial da Madeira, in Caniçal, which integrates financial,
industrial and commercial activities and is constituted by a set of
fiscal and financial incentives cannot be forgotten. that can benefit
all the companies that settle there.
Madeira has a very appealing
tax policy, charging all taxpayers (both families and companies) rates
far below those practiced in most of the European Union. This fact
placed Madeira on the world economic and financial map, as a favorable
place for investment. Many companies, Portuguese and foreign, have
invested in Madeira.
Tourism in Madeira constitutes an average source of income for the
Madeiran economy and therefore it is said that the island lives and
breathes Tourism.
With an economy dependent on tourism, it is
necessary to create appealing events that increase demand for the
island. Since then, Madeira already has several frequent tourist
attractions annually, such as:
Carnival has proved to be an important
event and brings a hotel occupancy rate of around 70%. The great
Allegorical Parade made up of 7-8 regional troupes that parade along the
main avenues of Funchal, to the sound and rhythm of samba, with lots of
color and joy and is the great attraction at this time of year. Also
joining this date is the Cortejo do Trapalhão, which has accompanied the
people of Madeira for a long time and involves satire in the midst of a
lot of fun;
Madeira is famous for the quality of its anona fruit. The
Festa da Anona is traditional and takes place annually in the parish of
Faial. This event encourages the consumption of this fruit and its
derivatives, such as liqueurs, puddings, ice cream and smoothies;
The
Flower Festival is the main focus of the Secretariat of Tourism and is
the second largest tourist event in the region, bringing hotel occupancy
rates around 80-85%. It is a unique event worldwide, and has to offer
tourists and residents a wide variety of floral carpets, an Allegorical
Parade where 8 troupes parade that show the fauna/flora and History of
Madeira, giving great satisfaction to tourists who promise to visit
Madeira in the following years;
The Atlantic Festival, every Saturday
in June, takes place on the Funchal wharf, with a fireworks display from
different countries competing to display their fireworks at the end of
the year. This show has proved to be a winning bet, not only for
tourists but also for the adherence of Madeirans;
The Madeira Wine
Rally takes place at the end of July and/or beginning of August and is
one of the National Rally events. In this competition, several regional,
national and world pilots join, which annually makes up a list of
between 60 and 70 subscribers, many of them associated with the IRC
competition;
Wine Festival, held in September on Avenida Arriaga;
Christmas and New Year parties.
The Christian traditions of the
Christmas season, deeply ingrained in the habits of the people of
Madeira, are combined with expressions of joy for the arrival of the new
year in a rich and extensive program of cultural, ethnographic and
artistic manifestations that begin in November , with the opening of
street lights in the center of Funchal, and covers the whole month of
December, extending until Epiphany.
In mid-November, preparations
begin to turn the city of Funchal into a real life-size "nativity
scene".
The streets are adorned with lights of all sizes and
colors that, composing designs, show a strong symbology of the island
and the time.
In December, the squares are decorated with
flowers: Easter mornings, holly, little shoes, all help to brighten the
streets of Funchal. And then there is also the Christmas music that
infiltrates, almost by magic, in all the arteries and that infects
everyone.
It is in this atmosphere of great joy that the streets
fill with people. Some come to do their Christmas shopping, others just
want to feel the buzz of those days leading up to the party. Cultural
events also begin, with various exhibitions alluding to the era and the
archipelago and quality musical shows.
After Christmas, the
hustle and bustle continues, this time to mark the last day of the year
in everyone's memory.
With Funchal's amphitheater transformed
into a grandiose nativity scene illuminated with more than 250,000
colored lamps, and with the slopes perforated in white, by the lights
purposely placed for this purpose, the scene is set for an unforgettable
show.
At twelve o'clock on the 31st of December, the skies are
illuminated, with fire, color and hope for the year ahead and which
could not have started in a better way (Source: Turismo Da Madeira).
Madeira holds the Guinness World Record for the Largest Fireworks
Show in the World. This record was achieved in 2006 and was beaten in
2010. Thus, the New Year's Eve is the biggest tourist event in the
region, with a hotel occupancy of around 90%-95%, reaching 100% in many
units.
On the other hand, there are several aspects that invite
tourists to enter this region. The climate, the possibility of combining
maritime and mountain activities, something made possible by the relief
and geography of the region, the existence of the possibility of
carrying out a huge range of sports activities and the observation of
Nature, made possible by the pedestrian routes to the traditional
levadas. Currently, the island has more than 200 levadas, including
“Caldeirão Verde”, “Caldeirão do Inferno” and “25 Fontes”. On these
routes, it is possible to view the rich fauna and flora of Madeira
Island, as well as the exuberance of the Laurissilva Forest. The
existing routes have varying degrees of difficulty, which allows access
to different audiences, thus having direct contact with nature. The
practice of these tours helps travelers to relax and enjoy the best of
nature.
In addition, it has the CR7 Museum, Museum Universe of
Memories João Carlos Abreu, Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas