In this category you will find posts about Madeira’s cultural heritage. This includes subjects about Madeira’s music, music instruments, folk dance, art scene and history, and several contributions about Madeira’s never ending festival calendar. We also have the official calendar for you.
The Madeira Photography Museum – Atelier Vicente’s Founded by Vicente Gomes da Silva in the 1850ies, this photographic studio, situated in Funchal, survives complete with equipment, sets, cameras, costumes and pictures. After a five-year closure and a 1.7-million-euro renovation, the oldest photo studio of Portugal just opened its doors to visitors again at the end …
… and there was light! Christmas is going to be unusual for all this year. For some more than for others perhaps, but a different festive season is a given in these times of extremes. Much Christmas fun may be off this year. We can, however, still enjoy the dazzling winter light displays on Madeira. …
Lapinhas Lapinhas or Nativity Scenes are part of Madeira’s Christmas traditions. If you are fond of extensive Christmas celebrations, Madeira, definitely, is the place to be. Celebrations last for an entire month and are the highlight of the year for the locals and tourists alike. You can read about the happenings taking place in December …
First Football Match in Portugal If there is one well known sport for locals on Madeira, then it is football. However, this was not always the case. An Englishmen by the name of Harry Hinton introduced football to Portugal and Madeira in 1875. The first real and organized game of football thus took place that …
Exceptional Joint Festival This special joint Festival takes place from September 3rd to September 27th, 2020. See you there! Flower and Wine Festival on Madeira. You will all agree that 2020 is a rather strange year. The Tourism Board of Madeira Island just published the new program with this year’s different version of the Flower …
Carros de Pau on Madeira Carros de Pau are cars made of wood by hand and without mechanical equipment. These are very traditional in Portugal in general but even more so on the Island of Madeira. There was a time when these “wooden cars” were an occupation for the younger generations, especially before all things …
Fado, the musical soul of Portugal Portugal, Madeira and the Azores possess a rich musical history. It is particularly famous for its mainly folk and traditional music in general but for Fado in particular. Above all, it belongs to Portuga’s soul. Fado feels like a Portuguese expression of “having the blues”. A quick translation of …
Sculpture A sculpture is any artwork made by the manipulation of materials of all kind resulting in a three-dimensional object. Certainly, it is the oldest form of art known to mankind. Sculpture can be freestanding, self-supported or hanging in relief. For instance, sculptures decorate cities and often tell a story or act as a reminder …
Camacha and wicker work on Madeira Willow trees grow prolifically along the many Madeira creeks. The areas of Sao Vicente, Boaventura and more importantly Camacha produce the willow rods. Wicker and Willow Rods It is mainly during the first months of the year that farmers collect the willow rods to made wicker work. These rods …
Lourdes Castro – Portuguese Contemporary artist Lourdes Castro is a Portuguese Contemporary artist born in 1930. Her work was featured in numerous exhibitions at prestigious galleries and museums, including the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, National Museum of Warsaw, Victoria and Albert Museum in London Museum of Modern Art in Havana, Cuba and the Museu …
Easter on Madeira Easter is one of the most important religious times on Madeira. Besides the strictly religious aspect of the festivities, Easter is also a time for gastronomy on the island. However, next to the religious traditions and the unique gastronomy, did you know that before Easter, you play Balamento on Madeira? Easter Tradition …
