Without a doubt, the greatest attraction of Madeira is its natural beauty. The island has forest, vineyards and farms and impressive cliffs and it is known by locals as ‘the floating garden’.
At the Funchal Botanical Gardens, visitors can see spectacular terraces of tropical flowers and other very delicate species that are grown inside greenhouses. These gardens, which also offer a wonderful view of the harbor, are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and entrance is free.
Some of the most interesting places that can be visited in Funchal, the capital city of Madeira, are: the Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmer’s market), a flowers and vegetables market; the Sé, a Cathedral built in the fifteenth century; the Quinta das Cruzes; the Museu de Arte Sacra (Sacred Art Museum) and the Casa de los Vinos (Wine House) where visitors can taste local wines.
Some of the most attractive towns in Madeira are Agua de Pera, Machico, Carnical, Portela, Porto da Cruz, Santa de Serra and Santa Cruz. All of them have beautiful examples of Portuguese colonial architecture. The best way to get to these towns is by car through the highways, which are quite rustic but offer exceptional views.
The interior of the island has interesting attractions such as Camacha, a wickerwork and basketwork production center; Eira do Serrado, an extinguished volcano crater located in the Curral das Ferias town and the Pico Ruivo (Ruivo Peak), the highest peak in the island. |
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