Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Madeira Highlights
Madeira is an island of astonishing contrasts. From the big-city sophistication
of the capital, Funchal, it is a short step to the primeval woodland that cloaks
the dramatic cliffs and canyons of the island's interior. The fertility of
Madeira's flower-filled gardens is in marked contrast to the aridity of the
island's volcanic peaks. And nothing could be more different than the gentle
rippling of the levadas (canals), which carry water into Madeira's deepest
valleys, and the crash of the waves that dash the island's rocky shores.
Madeira has been called a place where all the continents meet. It has
something of them all - including snow.
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Cathedral (Sé)
Hewn out of the island's
volcanic rock and its
abundant timber
supplies, Madeira's
cathedral is a monument
to the faith and piety of
the island's first settlers
(see pp8-9)
.
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Museu de Arte
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Sacra, Funchal
Trade contacts with
Antwerp in the 15th
century enabled
Madeira's mer-
chants to sell
their sugar -
so valuable
that it was
known as
“white gold”
- and buy the
superb Flemish
paintings and
sculptures
that fill this
art museum
(see pp10-11)
.
$
Museu da Quinta
das Cruzes,
Funchal
Look inside a gracious
Madeiran mansion, built
on the site where the
island's first ruler, João
Gonçalves Zarco, had his
home
(see pp14-17)
.
£
Adegas de São
Francisco, Funchal
Madeira is renowned for
its wines, famous for their
complexity and depth of
flavour. At this historic
wine lodge you can sam-
ple different vintages and
learn to be a Madeira con-
noisseur
(see pp12-13)
.
Preceding pages
View of Curral das Freiras, with Pride of Madeira
flowers in foreground
