| any places on earth get the opportunity to be | | | | Animated Funchal All year Round |
| discovered twice, but the islands of Madeira and Porto | | | | Whatever season you decide on, you will be |
| Santo have. These two islands together with Las | | | | guaranteed a warm, mild climate with temperatures |
| Desertas and Las Selvagens islands make up what is | | | | between 17 to 26 degrees. One would think that the |
| called the Archipelago of Madeira. They are found | | | | busiest season for tourism would late spring to early |
| 1000 kilometers southwest of Lisbon, Portugal and half | | | | fall, but Christmas is actually one of the hottest and |
| that distance from the African continent. Since their | | | | most lively times on these paradisiac islands. With |
| discovery around 1419 and founded in 1425 by Joao | | | | visitors from the colder countries and very much into |
| Goncalves Zarco, little was known about these islands | | | | the Christmas spirit, Madeira dresses its port streets |
| but in the last decade have quickly become the major | | | | with the best lighting decorations and the most |
| tourist attractions in the Atlantic Ocean. Joao | | | | colourful fireworks on New Year’s Eve. July |
| Goncalves, with a special permission from the | | | | and August are usually very muggy and with the |
| Portuguese government, used prisioners from the | | | | highest humidity and temperatures, but quite welcomed |
| prisions and enticed settlers from the poorest regiones | | | | after a long cold winter. |
| like El Algarve to colonize Madeira. The airport on | | | | The city of Funchal is chock full of history and |
| Madeira in the town of Santa Cruz on the east side is | | | | architecture as you visit churches going back to the |
| just an hour flight from Lisbon and also serves the | | | | 17th century as is the Church of Colegio Sao Joao |
| other island of Porto Santo with smaller planes. This | | | | Evangelist or the Se which is cathedral in Portuguese. |
| archipelago is really something special to enjoy. | | | | Being as Madeira means wood in Portuguese, the |
| Funchal was named the capital of Madeira in 1425 and | | | | inside of the cathedral is done up in marble and cedar |
| is located on the south side. Under the rule of Joao | | | | wood. One of the most impressive buildings is called |
| Goncalves, Funchal prospered into being a very | | | | Pacos do Concelho ( 18th c. ) with black volcanic stone |
| important sugar cane producer and by the year 1508, it | | | | counteracting with the white front facing and |
| changed its position from town to city and sugar | | | | doorways. There are museums dedicated to religious |
| canes were carved onto the coats of arms as its | | | | art, the Museum of Natural History housed in the |
| main symbol. Being as ocean travel was becoming | | | | Palace of Sao Pedro where you can get a closer look |
| more popular, especially among the greedy and pirates, | | | | at the marine life of these islands and a museum |
| Funchal was attacked and robbed. This fact made this | | | | which holds many pieces left behind by all the different |
| enticing stopover react and built its city in a | | | | cultures that frequented the islands like Chinese |
| semi-circular way so that all the building would be | | | | porcelain and figures carved from the ivory tusks from |
| looking and watching the sea. Even today there are | | | | the captured whales. Around this museum there are |
| houses and buildings that face the waterfront ‘ | | | | also interesting pieces of art accompanied by the |
| just to keep on eye on things’. | | | | aroma of fresh orquids. |