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Holidays to Madeira

The Portuguese island of Madeira has a well known name, however many people are not aware of its actual location. It is situated more than 600 miles (966km) southwest of Lisbon; it is a mere speck in the vast Atlantic Ocean, making it a perfect choice for an island holiday. Madeira, along with its sister island of Porto Santo, is actually the summit of an undersea mountain, rearing up with craggy cliffs from the warm blue Gulf Stream waters in one of the deepest parts of the Atlantic. It features one of the world's highest ocean cliffs, soaring 1,933ft (589m) above the sea, which presented a forbidding sight to the ancient Portuguese mariners who first discovered the island archipelago in the 15th century. In fact Porto Santo and Madeira were the first 'new worlds' that were colonised by Henry the Navigator in his quest to explore the world.

The island of Madeira is a mere thirteen miles wide and thirty-five miles long and has no beaches; however it is a wild Eden of lush botanical landscapes and rich volcanic earth. Most of the indigenous thick forest was destroyed in a fire created by the first Portuguese colonialists to clear it for farming. Today however, the fragrant island blooms with colourful masses of orchids, bougainvillea, frangipani, wisteria and geraniums. Fruit and herbs grow in profusion on the hillsides and in ravines, and the mountain slopes are terraced with orchards and vineyards. The island has been termed a 'floating garden'. Experience the lush natural landscape for yourself on a Madeira holiday.

Porto Santo
Porto Santo is the sister island to Madeira and is located just twenty-four miles from the larger island of Madeira. In 1418 Portuguese mariners Joao Goncalves Zarco and Tristao Vaz Teixeira stumbled across it while running from a storm. Unlike Madeira, Porto Santo is rather bleak and barren, but its southern coast is bordered by a lovely five-mile (eight km) stretch of beach fringed with soft golden sand, which, together with its temperate climate, has turned it into a popular resort for Porto Santo holidays. The main town on the island is Vila Baleira, which was visited by Christopher Columbus. There is a scenic park in the town, some cafes and pretty cobblestone streets lined with stucco houses.

Transport: Several regular daily flights to and from Madeira, or ferry from Funchal harbor

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Essential Information

 


Frederico de Freitas Museum

The timeless city of Rome is a living museum of the ancient world, home to the ruins of ancient Rome and once the centre of the world, when it was ruled by the Caesars of times gone by. The centuries peel back with each new vista in this great city of gladiators, lunatic drivers and well-rounded pasta posteriors. Vespas, nippy little Fiats and red sports cars speed past trendy sidewalk bistros and nightclubs, revealing the Rome of Fellini's La Dolce Vita, whilst the chillingly stark facades of the Stadio Olimpico complex bring back Mussolini's attempts to reinvent the architecture of the Caesars.

The Frederico de Freitas Museum is named after a Madeiran lawyer who originally owned the array of interesting art and craft collections, contained within the museum in Funchal, which includes Moorish, Turkish and North African art and tiles, trophies and pottery from many eras. Besides these highlights the de Freitas collection also includes Madeiran artefacts, porcelain pieces, religious sculptures, ancient sacred paintings and Chinese and North African metal and woodwork. The museum is a treasure trove for antique lovers.

Address: Calçada de Santa Clara, 7; Telephone: 91 220 578; Opening time: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 6pm; Admission: €2

Sao Vicente Caves

The Sao Vicente Caves are next to the river at Pe de Passo and are made up from a labyrinth of lava tubes, which were formed from a volcanic eruption some 400,000 years ago. These volcanic tunnels extend for about 3,281ft (1,000m) and can be explored on a 30-minute tour. The caves feature formations like lava cakes, volcanic stalactites and erratic blocks and give a sense of walking through the bowels of the earth.

Telephone: 291 842 404; Opening time: Daily 9am to 9pm (until 7pm in winter); Admission: €8 (adults), concessions €6

Cable Car

Madeira's capital of Funchal is offers a scenic view over the islands landscapes via the cable car ride from the old town region of Parque Almirante Reis to the enchanting mountain village of Monte. The journey takes about 15 minutes and ends at the cableway station near the Monte Palace Tropical Garden.

Cathedral

In the heart of the Madeiran capital the Funchal Cathedral or Sé offers visitors the chance to explore the most impressive religious building on the island. From outside the simple rough white stucco and brownish basalt is not all that impressive, but after entering through the Gothic portal there is plenty to admire. The ceiling, for instance, is Moorish carved cedar inlaid with ivory, and behind the Baroque altar are paintings by Flemish and Portuguese artists.

Address: Rua do Aljube; Telephone: 291 228 155; Opening time: Monday to Saturday 7am to 1pm, and 4pm to 7pm; Sundays 8am to 8.30pm; Admission: Free; donation suggested

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