Madeira

The archipelago of Madeira is located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 900 km from mainland Portugal, and includes the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, as well as the Desertas and Selvagens Islands.

Funchal is the capital city of Madeira Island. Its temperate climate, pleasant seawater and lush vegetation are natural features that gave rise to the name by which it became known worldwide, "Pearl of the Atlantic", making this island a year-round favourite tourist destination.

Laurissilva Forest, classified by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, offers breathtaking landscapes, and it is possible to walk in the famous levadas, ancient waterways that facilitated the irrigation of such rugged terrain and that nowadays are the best way to discover this natural heritage, which covers 2/3 of the island’s territory.

Nowadays, Madeira Island is modernised, with good access and high-quality services. In its 728 km2, it combines mountain, sea, mild climate, fertile soils, as well as living and gcadmined customs and traditions, such as the world-famous Madeiran New Year's Eve fireworks, the region’s typical folklore, the Flower Festival, the Atlantic Festival and numerous popular festivities, which take place throughout the year and a bit all over the island.