Madeira Holidays - Travel Guide
Magnificent Madeira's Panoramic Views
The small Portuguese island of Madeira is actually the summit of an underwater mountain that rises up from this deep water area of the Atlantic Ocean. Madeira was colonised by the Portuguese in the 15th century and its mountainous slopes and hillsides have been cultivated with vineyards and orchards. Madeira holidays offer magnificent panoramic views that show off the island's lush greenery set against the deep azure sea. Holidays in Madeira boast a superb year round climate and some lovely picturesque villages. The historic features of Madeira are complimented by top-notch facilities and plenty of water sports activities.
An impressive cathedral sits in the heart of the Madeira's capital Funchal, which features winding cobbled streets and some interesting museums and tropical gardens. Funchal is the main place to go for Madeira holidays nightlife, with a selection of good bars and a handful of decent clubs in the downtown area.
Attractions of Madeira
Madeira holidays promise some lovely scenic views, but one of the easiest ways to see them is to ride the cable car. The cable car starts Funchal at the Parque Almirante Reis in the old part of town and runs up to the beautiful little village of Monte in the mountains above the city. The magnificent Madeira countryside, filled with flowers and basking in glorious sunshine, is a popular place with ramblers. Madeira holidays can also offer a variety of interesting excursions. Visit the finely cultivated gardens for a relaxing day out, featuring unusual flora and fauna native to the island.
Although Madeira has no beaches of its own, a day trip by ferry to the even smaller sister island of Porto Santo offers a 5 mile stretch of soft golden sand and quaint cobbled streets in the main town of Vila Baleira, where you can sit and enjoy a glass of fortified Madeira wine. Porto Santo is a popular excursion on Madeira holidays. For cheap Flights to Madeira search for Madeira Flights and Hotels in Madeira at the build your own page, or alternatively get cheap Madeira Package Holidays with straightforward online booking.