Madeira: The island of eternal spring
I want to go
The story goes that in 1418, during an expedition to explore the African coast, two Portuguese sailors were blown off course by a storm and reached a small island they named Porto Santo. The following year, in 1419, they returned to the area and rediscovered a larger, wooded island, which they named "Madeira" because of the abundance of wood they found.
Madeira Island welcomes us with a generous rain. We are in the Atlantic Ocean. Our driver assures us that the sun will be out by noon. My accommodation for the next few days is the historic Reids Palace of the prestigious Belmond, Train and Cruises chain. Reid's Palace was the dream of William Reid, a visionary Scotsman who wanted to create a majestic hotel in Madeira. Built in 1891. Evidently with numerous renovations throughout the year where it has hosted countless illustrious guests from royalty, presidents, actors and explorers like Ernest Shackelton. At reception we are assured that at 15:00 it will stop raining and the sun will come out. And indeed at 15:00 sharp, the sun timidly appears and people fill the streets of Funchal. The capital of Madeira Island.
Visiting Funchal is more than an unforgettable experience. known as the garden city. Full of history, cosmopolitan and cultural. We climb the Monte cable car where the best views of the city await us. An experience of blue, green and orange tones. We enter the lush tropical garden Monte Palace Madeira, considered one of the best gardens in the world.
In the afternoon it is time to go down to the city, and for the occasion there is no better experience than by the famous Carrinhos de Cesto. These vehicles were created in the 19th century, when they were used as a means of public transportation by the population of the parish of Monte, located about 500 meters above sea level, to go down to the city more quickly.
The Mercado dos Lavradores, which occupies a prominent place in the center of Funchal, is a living museum where the freshness, liveliness and tropical flavors of the archipelago take center stage. The range of colors, aromas, people and flavors that characterize this Madeiran market make it unique.
Madeira's local gastronomy is an explosion of flavors and a sensory experience. From its tropical fruits, its fresh fish, the espetada of meats or grilled limpets. Not forgetting its most famous cocktail, the Poncha, made from sugar cane brandy, lemon honey and sweet wine to liven up with desserts.
Quinta da Casa Branca, once a large garden in its agricultural past, became an exclusive design hotel thanks to the vision of an architect friend of the family. Descendants of John Leacock, a pioneer of the Madeira wine trade with England in the 18th century, the family was a major producer of Madeira wine until 1925. The Leacock name lives on: it is still one of the Madeira wine brands. For its innovative design, the architectural team received Madeira's prestigious architectural award in 1999, the "City of Funchal Architecture Award".
To explore the archipelago is to enjoy the opportunity to fill your eyes with a range of incomparable landscapes. From the viewpoints of Madeira, visitors can access landscapes with cinematographic profiles, always surprising. Dreamlike cliffs, peaks such as the well-known Airerio, which can be reached by the Riveiro route or by car along a beautiful road. The "houses of Santana" have become icons widely known nationally and internationally for the peculiar beauty of its architectural style. Triangular in shape and covered with thatch, they are the symbol of this municipality on the north coast of Madeira.
As a photography lover Madeira is a paradise full of great locations.
