Madeira is an island that enters the archipelago with the same name in the north of the Atlantic Ocean. It is very similar to the garden afloat, and is considered one of the ideal places to relax. Even in the XIX century, its magnificent landscapes conquered Europe, and Madeira became a popular resort for Europeans.
In addition to very interesting natural attractions, there are many places on Madeira that are worth seeing.
Madeira National Wildlife Refuge
The island's national reserve was established in 1982, it occupies two thirds of its entire territory and is divided into several separate reserves. It consists of strictly protected areas and equipped recreation areas.
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Gardens of Madeira
The botanical gardens, located on the slope of the mountain, are considered one of the main natural attractions of Madeira. Here you can find more than two thousand plants from all over the world, you can admire the collection of exotic birds, visit the Museum of Nature History and the Herbarium. These gardens belong to the state, and anyone can visit them.
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Park of the Dragon Trees
This amazing park, gathered a collection of macronesian dragon trees, which are on the verge of extinction. The park is located in Sao Gonzalo, east of Funchal, the capital of the island. Dragon trees grow very slowly, so many of them are several hundred years old.
Orchid Garden Quinta da Boa Vista
This is a private garden in which a collection of orchids from around the world is collected, there are even very rare specimens. The best time to visit this garden is from May to December.
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In the capital of Madeira, Funchal, you can visit a huge number of museums and churches.
The churches of Madeira
One of the main architectural sights of the capital is the functioning Franciscan monastery of the 16th century, which you can get acquainted with the process of production of the famous Madera.
Se Cathedral, built in the Gothic style in the center of Funchal, is made of lava, and the ceiling in it is encrusted with wood and ivory. Despite all this, it is not as decorative as other churches on the island, but here you can feel the history and quietly pray.
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But the Catholic Church of St. Pedro, on the contrary, surprises that a small church is so beautifully decorated (chandeliers and paintings). They very often spend weddings or just come to listen to the beautiful singing of the church choir.
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Museums of Madeira
The history center of Madeira was built in order to acquaint with the history and development of the island of Madeira and its culture. In advertising, it is declared as an interactive museum, but in fact there you can get acquainted only with a small amount of smells and sounds.
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In the museum of the fortress of Sao Tiago there is also the Museum of Arts, where a large collection of works by Portuguese artists has been collected, since the 1960s. Private exhibitions of contemporary artists are also organized here.
It is also recommended to visit with a tour the estate of the discoverer of Madeira, João Gonçalves Zarku, where the Museum of Quinta das Kruzesh is now located. An ancient mansion, in which a rich collection of paintings, antique furniture, porcelain is collected, is surrounded by a beautiful garden where you can see a lot of sculptures, exotic flowers and trees. You can visit the garden for free.
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To admire the breathtaking view of the whole city, you need to climb to the highest peak of Madeira on the cable car from the capital - Mount Monte, covered with parks and gardens, and here is the Tropical Garden of the Palace of Monte.
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Beaches of Madeira
On the island of Madeira, there are few beaches, most of which are located on the sunny coast of Ponta do Sol and Calheta. Magnificent golden beaches with sand that has medicinal properties can be found on the island of Porto Santo.
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Madeira Water Park
Near the town of Santa Cruz is the water park of Madeira. It is small in size (designed for 1000 people) and does not have unusual hills, but there can find entertainment for both children and adults.
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In Madeira, various annual carnivals and festivals are often held: in February - February carnival (a small copy of the Brazilian carnival), late April - early May - a flower festival, and in September - a wine festival.
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To visit the amazing Madeira, you will need a passport and a Schengen visa .