What Madeira lacks in size (it's only 35 miles long and 14 miles wide), it makes up for in idyllic landscapes and remarkable cultural traditions.
Located just 600 miles southwest of Lisbon - and surrounded by the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean - Madeira is Known as the 'Pearl of the Atlantic'. It was 'discovered' by the Portuguese in 1418, who quickly found that it was ideal for crops, including bananas, grapes and sugar cane, thanks to its fertile volcanic soil. Virtually any spare patch of land is cultivated, resulting in hillsides covered in terraced fields and levadas, or irrigation channels. It's a plant lover’s dream with an enormous diversity of species, from imported, purple-blossomed jacaranda trees, orchids and bird of paradise plants to its native (UNESCO-protected) Laurisilva forest.
From enjoying the views on winding, cliff-hugging drives across the countryside to savouring fresh seafood in the shaded courtyards of Madeira's capital and largest city, Funchal, there's so much to see and do on a holiday in Madeira.
