Madeira is an island of flowers located amid the Atlantic Ocean, with steep cliffs, green valleys, majestic mountains and world famous wine. Belonging to Portugal, it is located nine hundred kilometres southwest of the European mainland and six hundred kilometres west of North Africa.

Funchal is the capital and from the beginning a feudal lord resided in the Palacio De São Lourenço along with the military, and later the governor of the island. In 1493 King Manuel The First founded the cathedral which was the first to be situated beyond the continent of Europe and was designed according to Mudéjar style, the Arab construction method of the Christian Moors.

The small fishing village of Camara De Lobos is situated west of Funchal on the south coast and was made famous by Sir Winston Churchill who painted its small harbour.

São Vicente looks like something from a picture postcard and wine growers proudly display their traditional homes and well laid out vineyards. The town is particularly well known for its Grutas, Madeira’s only accessible cave system and which indicates its geological past.

In the north east is the tourist centre of Santana with its straw-roofed houses, beautiful flowers and streets lined with patterned cobblestones.

Amid a fertile terraced landscape is the picturesque centre of Faial and its modest parish church, the destination of a major annual pilgrimage. The village exudes tranquillity and there has been little impact of tourism as both the landscape and the local people have retained their original character.

Madeira is like a jewel in the Atlantic, possessing its own rich variety of exceptional, natural landscapes. A wild beauty with many hidden treasures!