Madeira is a a Portuguese archipelago with Porto Santo Island and Selvagens, its origins is volcanic from a Hot Spot. Madeira belongs and has belonged ethnically, culturally, economically and political to Europe for 600 years. Madeira was discovered between 1418 and 1420 by the Portuguese captains João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz by orders of Prince Henry the Navigator, master from the Sagres Navigator School.
In the XIX century the English discovered the amenity of the climate of Madeira. When they were coming from their colonies in Asia, the started to stop in Madeira and some just stay as it happens l nowadays with some of our tourists. Madeira is a popular year round resort. It is possible to do all kind of sports, mountain and sea, swimming on sea or in the fantastic natural swimming pools, discover the bushes Laurissilva-Unesco protected, Cabo Girão (seen from the apartment); Santana, where we can find how the antiques lived in their small houses. Pico Ruivo, nearly 2.000 meters high. Also there are the walks on the Levadas, channels made by man to bring water from the north to the south also UNESCO protected, with its unique views and water falls. Madeira has a good climate all over the year.
Funchal, the capital of Madeira is unique with its fantastic arbour spread in an enormous amphitheatre, which specially in the New Year Eve the show of fire works is phenomenal and famous all over the world.
Funchal is one of this places that when you have been you will never forget. During all year there are many festivities, namely: Christmas and New Year Eve, Flower Festival, Carnival, Strawberry Festival, Cherry Festival, Wine Festival, Nuts Festival and also festivals of their many Guardian Saints as Madeiriens are very religious. Christmas is very special, they decorate all their houses with lights and all public spaces and also make representations of the birth o Jesus in different public areas.