In this category we will show all of our blog posts having specific landmarks as the objective. These landmark all have a specific location. We’ll do our best to give you a link to a google map also. A landmark could be a monument, a historic building, or a natural landmark. For example one of the picos of Madeira, or the lavapools of Porto Moniz. You can just pick one of these and drive or walk there. If the landmark is a museum or a cultural heritage site, we’ll tell you what it costs and when are the opening hours. You’ll find a lot of landmarks along the North Coast. That’s because…well…we have a preference.
Porto Moniz Porto Moniz is a charming small village perched on the dramatic north western tip of Madeira. The region offers towering mountains and views over endless deep Atlantic Ocean blue. Historically, the topography of the region isolated Porto Moniz from the rest of the island. Yet it survived by specialising in whaling, a practice …
The Hotel Reid’s palace is a magnificent luxury hotel, exuding elegance, glamour, refinement, and aristocracy of long gone centuries. The hotel offers two hard tennis courts, a spa, table tennis and a children’s playground. There are two rectangular swimming pools (one with sea water, one with fresh water) located high above the sea on a …
What to expect from the laurel forest The Laurisilva or laurel forest of Madeira is a true garden of Eden. Visiting it is much like traveling back 3 million years to a typical Western European forest. On the whole, that’s because the laurel forest is an outstanding relict of a previously widespread laurel forest type. …
Quinta das Cruzes Museum – Funchal The Quinta das Cruzes is a quinta exuding with historical value and tradition. It is also one of the most typical manor houses of Funchal. Today this gem is a museum. However, in times long passed, it was the second residence of João Gonçalves Zarco, the Portuguese captain who …
Ilhas Selvagens – Selvagens Islands or Savage Islands. The Selvagens Islands is a small Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It is situated some 280 kilometers south of Madeira and 165 kilometers from the Spanish Canary Islands. Your head is tilting right now. Certainly, you are wondering why we write a blog post about savage …
What to expect Driving to the rugged North Coast of Madeira is getting ready for some beautiful scenery. Tall waves crashing into basaltic rock. Lush, emerald green forests on seemingly vertical slopes. Waterfalls crashing down. Ancient paths and roads perilously carved in the mountainside. Well we thought pictures speak more than words. History has …
Miradouro is viewpoint in Portuguese and Madeira has plenty of them. The capital city of Funchal alone is home to many nice viewpoints. Let’s explore some of Funchal’s belvederes with you. Miradouro da Nazaré Set at an altitude of 164 meters above the Atlantic, this Miradouro is west of the city center. The views reach …
Monte Monte is one of the parishes of Funchal, Madeira’s capital city. It is rather small but definitely well worth a visit. Getting there by cable car One of the easiest ways to reach Monte is to the take the cable car from downtown Funchal (in the old part of Funchal). If you have not …
History and Geography The municipality of Santa Cruz is located in the South East of Madeira island. It includes the Desertas islands and has a surface of approximately 81.5 km2. The municipality borders with some of the island’s main cities: Funchal (West), Machico (North) and Santana (North). Behind Funchal, Santa Cruz is the second most …
Casa das Queimadas If you decide to go for a levada walk on Madeira, you will likely take a trail starting in the famous Queimadas Park Forest. Not only is this forest home to the beautiful Laurissilva flora, it is also home to the Casa das Queimadas. History and construction This house looks like it …
Ponta do Sol is one of the municipalities of Madeira, located on the South of the island. The municipality comprises three parishes: Ponta do Sol, Madalena do Mar and Canhas. It is located between Ribeira Brava and Calheta. Approximately 8,900 people live in Ponta do Sol, with a surface of more or less 47 km2. …
