Madeira

The island of Madeira is lapped by the waters of the Gulf Stream with warm comfortable summers and mild winters that make it an enchanting holiday destination all year round. Below you will find all the essential information you may need to help you plan your holiday and further in-depth information if you wish to deepen your knowledge about the island and its inhabitants.

Madeira (pron. IPA [mɐ'deiɾɐ] or [mɐ'dɐiɾɐ]) is a Portuguese archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean that lies between 32°22.3′N 16°16.5′W and 33°7.8′N 17°16.65′W. It is one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, with Madeira Island and Porto Santo being the only inhabited islands. It is also part of the European Union.

Madeira, known originally to the Romans as the Purple Islands, was rediscovered, possibly accidentally, by Portuguese sailors and settled by Portugal as early as 1418 or as late as 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first discovery of the exploratory period initiated by Henry the Navigator of Portugal . It is a popular year-round resort, famed worldwide for its Madeira wine, a perfect climate, striking scenery, flowers, embroidery artisans, and New Year's Eve celebrations with a spectacular fireworks show, recently considered the biggest fireworks show in the world, by the Guinness World Records.

Tourism is an important sector in the region's economy since it contributes 20% to the region's GDP, providing support throughout the year for commercial, transport and other activities and constituting a significant market for local products. The share in Gross Value Added of hotels and restaurants (9%) also highlights this phenomenon. The island of Porto Santo, with its 9 km long beach and its climate, is totally devoted to tourism. Over the past decade it has recorded a substantial increase in its hotel accommodation capacity. The Madeira has considerable potential since the necessary infrastructure has been established and adequate investment incentives introduced for expanding its hotel and catering structure in a controlled manner, without disturbing the socio-economic and environmental balance, and without neglecting the conservation of its nature, which is one of tourists' main reasons for visiting Madeira.

Visitors are from the European Union, with Germany, United Kingdom and Portuguese tourists providing the main contingents. The average annual occupancy rate was 57.4% in 2001, reaching its maximum in March and April, when it exceeds 70%.

Madeira is a singularly beautiful island. The scenery is memorable and remarkably diverse, especially bearing in mind the island's modest size. Madeira has been described as a ‘floating garden', reflecting centuries of cultivation. The rich volcanic soil, mild climate and abundant rainfall (especially in the north) have been responsible for contrasting landscapes: lush river valleys, terraced hillsides planted with vines and bananas and dense primeval forest.

The most enjoyable way to explore the island is to follow the course of the levadas (irrigation channels) which crisscross the countryside. The island's burgeoning coastal resorts are geared to the demands of modern tourism and the expansion of Santa Catarina Airport is expected to lead to a marked increase in the number of foreign visitors over the next decade.