Madeira

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Madeira Faial
Madeira Faial

Madeira [1] is a tropical archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous region of Portugal. The archipelago is made up of two populated islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and two groups of unpopulated islands called the Desertas and Selvagens Islands. It is part of the European Union ultraperifric area.

Known worldwide as the Islands of eternal Spring, Madeira or "Ilha Jardim"{Garden Island}. as one of the best climates in the world with mild climate throughout the entire year.

Madeira island is 310 miles from the African coast and 620 miles from the European continent, only 1h 30mn flight from mainland Portugal and about 3h from all the main countries in Europe.

[edit] Cities

[edit] Understand

Madeira Islands are just a short trip from Europe (more or less 4 hours from UK), to a destination where you can combine holidays on the beach, in the mountains or in the city. Discovered early in the 15th century by the Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

  • Madeira International Airport/Funchal(FNC) (IATA: FNC)(ICAO: LPMA) (formerly known as Santa Catarina Airport), about 30 minutes from Funchal,in Santa Cruz municipality. Tel: +351 291 52 07 00. The island of Porto Santo (PXO)is in Porto Santo/Vila Baleira. This airport is just a 15 minute flight from Madeira International Airport.

There is boat/ship service between the two islands. The following Airline companies fly regularly to Madeira International Airport: TAP Portugal, Portugália, SATA, British Airways, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Air France, easyJet, First Choice Airways, Thomson, LTU, Thomas Cook, Condor, Niki, SAS, Sterling, Transavia, My Travel, Binter Canarias.

[edit] By boat

  • Cruise ships port here.
  • There is a car ferry between Porto Santo and Madeira, two hours one way. Ferry Service Funchal-Porto Santo.[[2]

[edit] Get around

  • Buses Recommended to get a 7 days bus ticket, access to all Funchal City routes, 17.50 EUR (March 2007)
  • Taxis
  • Car rental Renting a car is a great way to see the island. All European rules of the road apply in Madeira. Roads outside of Funchal can be windy and steep and gas stations rare.

Portugal and Madeira Car Hire - Auto Jardim [3]

[edit] Talk

English is as common as in mainland Portugal, although people will always appreciate it if you try and learn a few words of Portuguese.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Levadas An impressive system of aqueducts built in the 1900s to bring water from the mountains to cropland.
  • Cabo Girão One of the world's highest ocean cliffs (590m/1,935 ft. above sea level), you'll easily realize the island's Edenlike quality.
  • Jardim Botânico Funchal Botanical garden.
  • São Vicente Caves, [4].Volcanic caves where you can visit lava tubes.
  • Jardim do Monte Palace Magnificent gardens of the former Monte Palace hotel.
  • Jardim Orquídea Orchid garden.
  • Madeira Story Centre, [5]. The best way to learn about Madeira's history and culture.
  • Curral das Freiras.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Madeira Nature, [6]. The Nature of Madeira (Active and Eco-Tourism)
  • Santo da Serra Golf, [7].
  • Palheiro Golf, [8].
  • Porto Santo Golf, [9].
  • Sailing
  • Snorkeling
  • Scuba diving
  • Madeira Ecotours, [10].
  • Nature Meetings, [11]. Hiking.
  • Surfing The Atlantic offers waves for moderate to experienced surfers.
  • Madeira Wind Birds, [12]. Bird watching.
  • InterTours, [13]. Sightseeing tours.

[edit] Learn

  • The University of Madeira [14] is one of the youngest Public Universities in Portugal.
  • Currently the Mathematics and Engineering Department [15] offers a joint *Professional Master Degree with the Carnegie Mellon University [16] in Human-Computer Interaction [17]. This top Professional Master program provides international students with opportunities to study in one of the best locations in the world, while having access to one of the world best Universities in Information and Communication technologies.

[edit] Work

Madeira is presently one the best locations in the E.U. for companies with operations in the single market and worldwide. With reduced direct and indirect taxation, adequate infrastructures, competitive operational costs, safety and quality of life, Madeira is positioned to provide the investor with a unique package of benefits, offering a wide range of solutions to enhance the efficiency and performance of various forms of investment.

Moreover, Madeira's preferential tax regime has not only been approved by Portugal, but also by the European Union as a valid form of State Aid for regional development, providing Madeira's IBC with credibility and transparency. To find out more about Madeira's special status in the E.U., please consult State Aid nº 222-A-02; State Aid nº 222-B-02 and the Commission's Decision 2003/294/CE.

For more information visit the official website of the International Business Center of Madeira [18].

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

  • Doca do Cavacas, Estrada Monumental, Ponta de Cruz, Funchal, Tel: + 351 291 762057. Fish restaurant.
  • Golden Gate Café, Avenida Arriaga, 29, 9000 Funchal, Tel: + 351 291 234383. International restaurant, one of the oldest and more traditional, just in the city center in a place known as the "corner of the world"
  • Adega da Quinta, Quinta do Estreito, Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, Tel: +351 291 910 530. Traditional restaurant where you can eat "espetada" in an old winery uphill from Câmara de Lobos

[edit] Splurge

  • Xôpana Restaurant, Choupana Hills Resort and Spa, Funchal, Madeira, Tel: (+351) 291 20 6020. Award winning restaurant at the Choupana Hills Resort, with a magnificent view over Funchal and world-class food and wine.
  • Les Faunes, Estrada Monumental 139, Funchal, In Reid's Palace Hotel, Tel: 291/71-71-71. Top quality French restaurant.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Madeira Wine is a fortified wine prized equally for drinking and cooking. There are four major types of Madeira: Malvasia (also known as Malmsey or Malvazia), Bual (or Boal), Verdelho, and Sercial, the latter two being drier.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

During low season (winter) prices may drop significantly, e.g., from 50€ to 35€. Time around Christmas is high-season.

  • Apartamentos Sao Paulo and Apartamentos Alegria [19]. Owned by the Mendonza family. Has 2 apartment blocks. Located in the Old Town, close to the English Church & Rua da Carreira. Cheaper rates for weekly stays.
  • Residencial Melba (Melba Pension), Azinhaga da Casa Branca 8, Funchal.. Lies in Western Funchal. 12 rooms.

[edit] Mid-range

  • Atrio - Madeira [20]: The Atrio is a small family run hotel located on the south side of Madeira island. Each room is individually styled. Address: Lombo dos Moinhos Acima, 9370-912 Estreito da Calheta - Madeira (+351) 291 820 400, email: welcome@atrio-madeira.com, fax: (+351) 291 820 419.
  • Vila Galé Santa Cruz, Rua de São Fernando 9100-157 SANTA CRUZ - MADEIRA, ☎ (+351) 291 529 000, [21]. Since its launch in 2006, the Vila Galé Santa Cruz Hotel is your hotel of choice for a holiday in Madeira. Only 5 minutes away from Funchal International Airport, the Santa Cruz Hotel is a top-quality 4-star hotel where you only have the sea for a vista. Located only a few kilometers away from the tourism centre of Funchal, the Santa Cruz Hotel is among the best that you can find for a holiday in Madeira. Online Booking edit

  • Pestana Hotels & Resorts - Funchal: Pestana Miramar, Pestana Village, Pestana Palms, Pestana Bay, Pestana Gardens [23]
  • Pestana Hotels & Resorts - Caniço: Pestana Atalaia [24]

  • Quinta Perestrello Heritage House, Rua Drº Pita nº 3, Funchal, [25], a small hotel, One adult 33€ per night and breakfast (special offer low season), 37 double rooms, located near Reid's Palace. 24 hour reception.
  • Estalagem do Mar, just outside in waking distance from São Vicente at the north coast. Rooms with private bathroom and tub and view to the Atlantic Ocean. Indoor and outdoor pool, jacuzzi and not necessarily working sauna, lots of parking space. Double low-season at 50€.
  • Crowne Plaza, [26]. Some English spoken here, wireless access in lobby. All rooms have ocean front views facing east. Several options for day trips and guided activities.
  • Quinta da Quebrada, [27]. Quinta da Quebrada is located in the North Coast of Madeira, more precisely in Arco de São Jorge. The place has a very pleasant weather, with sun all over the year. Very warm and dry in summer, gentle temperature and very few rainy days on winter. The unit offers you 7 Bungalows all with a very beautiful view over the Atlantic Ocean, TV and Telephone. Each one is composed by a double room, a private bath-room, and a kitchenette/living-room.
  • Hotel Monte Carlo, Calçada da Saude Nr. 10. Beautiful, old Hotel with a great view over the city of Funchal. Directly near the Convent St. Clara. Reasonable priced and not directly in a designated tourist district. Lots of good and affordable Restaurants nearby.

[edit] Splurge

  • Pestana Hotels & Resorts - Madeira [28]: Pestana Carlton Madeira, Pestana Casino Park, Pestana Grand
  • Reid's Palace - lovely old five-star where Winston Churchill used to stay!
  • Savoy & Royal Savoy - Reid's rival hotel complex, consists of the old Savoy hotel and new, contemporary Royal Savoy
  • Choupana Hills Resort [29]. One of the top hotels in Madeira just outside Funchal.
  • The Cliff Bay [30]. Luxurious 5 star hotel owned by the Porto Bay group, it is the most awarded 5 star hotel in Madeira with prizes like the Neckermann PRIMO 2006; Trip Advisor 2005 Winners: Top 100 World Luxury Hotels; Style Holidays Gold Award 2005, etc.

[edit] Stay safe

Emergency Service telephone number is 112 Some police in Funchal have red armbands, this signifies that they speak another language other than Portuguese, mainly English and German. Crime figures for Madeira are very low.

This is a usable article. It has information about the region and for getting in, as well as links to a few destinations. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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