Madeira Holidays

Whether you are coming to soak up the sun, take in some history or simply sip on a snifter or two, a Madeira holiday has something in store for you!

Home to a vibrant party atmosphere due to various carnivals throughout the year, you will find yourself engrossed in a culture of sophistication mixed with fun; the Flower Festival allows brings out a sense of warmth and unity in the Madeiran people, whilst the Madeira Wine Institute Museum and Museum of Sacred Art allow you to experience firsthand the trade, culture and history of Madeira through the tasting of wines and the viewing of magnificent pieces of art.

Once you are done, go relax along its sunshine coast before maybe settling down for a fresh seafood platter or even a traditional a beef ‘lombo brochette' served with a glass of red Madeiran wine.

Come to Madeira and find your taste – buds tantalised, body bronzed and mind intrigued by this sophisticated Mediterranean Mecca!

View all our holidays to Maderia

Madeira Holidays - Where Is Madeira?

Although recognized as a province of Portugal, Madeira, the main island of the Madeira Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, is actually autonomous is its leadership, ruled by its own parliament and government. Naturally, as it is part of Portugal, it is also part of Europe. Its most famous export is Madeira wine.

Madeira Holidays - Local History

Madeira really came to providence in the 15 th century, as it became a central trade point for the rich trade routes between Funchal and the countries that traded throughout the Atlantic Sea. Famously, Madeira and nearby Porto Santo was the training ground for Cristovão Colombo (Christopher Columbus) who used the area to train in the art of navigation before embarking on his voyage to America.

The early 15 th century also saw Madeira grow and maintain an impressive cereal market, with around 150 large farms growing wheat which helped provide cereal to Mainland Portugal and parts of Europe.

Come the end of the 15 th century, however, Madeira began growing sugar cane crops, and the exportation of "white gold" to Europe began. With the invention of the first water – driven sugar mills in 1506 in Diogo Teives, production greatly increased, rising to a phenomenal level of 3.500 tonnes in a year. Success in the production of sugar continued until the last decade of the 16 th century, when trade almost stopped completely due to disease of crops, poor soil conditions and increases in competition selling at a lower price, namely from Brazil. Therefore, during much of the 17 th century, the Archipelago of Madeira suffered social and economical crisis. However, due to the fact that the port of Funchal held such a key position in terms of trade routes for Africa, America and India, Madeira's economy was soon back on its feet, trading pastry and "casquinha" (sugar, lemon and cider coated fruits) to said regions.

For 60 years between 1580 and 1639, Portugal and Madeira were joined under the name of Castille, but by 1640, independence was restored to Madeira. Madeira's economy was further boosted by several contracts being agreed with British company owners in England, India and America who wanted to import Madeira Wine. Soon, production of the now famous wine ran to over 45,000 wine barrels, of which 30,000 were exported.

Come the 18th century Madeira Archipelago recognised once again another economical resection, due to the end of the napoleon wars and the subsequent peace restoration in Europe. Around this time, Madeira began the construction of it's beloved “levadas” (water canals), many of which can be found in the areas of Rabaçal, Juncal, Furado, Feijã dos Vinháticos. At the same time Madeira started upping it's successful sugar and banana exports.

From the mid 19 th century onwards, many ‘Therapeutic Tourists' arrived, sent by English and German doctors who prescribed the hot climate of Madeira as a fantastic remedy for pulmonary diseases.

In the 20 th century and still continuing today, the construction of a network of roads, port enlargement and the building of an International airport have all helped increase industry and attract tourism, which, when combined with natural beauty and a blissful climate, make for an ideal holiday getaway.

Madeira Holidays – Carnival celebrations

Celebrated between Saturday evening before Shrove Tuesday all the way to the day itself, Madeira is awash with one huge carnival celebrating this Christian event.

Often, the carnival spirit spills over into hotels, bars and clubs, and the Cortejo Trapalhão on Shrove Tuesday exhibits surprising examples of creativity and imagination, often exhibiting caricatures, painting and puppets of famous people and religious icons.

Madeira Holidays – Flower Festival

Every year starting at the two weeks immediately following Easter, Madeira's flower-festival fills the main streets of Funchal's centre with floats displaying a myriad of flowers and colours.

As tradition goes, the eve of the street parade sees thousands of children gather in the Praça do Município, where they jointly build a ‘Wall of Hope', made of thousands of flowers. Other activities to look out for include the construction of flower carpets in the street, folklore performances, flower shows, classical music renditions and various performance acts.

Madeira Holidays – The Madeira Wine Institute Museum

Housed in the former residence of Henry Veitch, an important British consul from the first half of the nineteenth century, the recently established Madeira Wine Institute Museum is a fitting visage of the rich retrospective on the history and methods of Madeira wine and its production. Most days also present patrons with wine tasting opportunities, allowing them to indulge in a range of tipples that have come to symbolise Madeira and it's history.

Madeira Holidays - Museum of Sacred Art

Located at the centre of Funchal, the Museum of Sacred Art is home to several extremely important pieces of fine art. There are also many pieces of sculpture and sacrilegious jewellery to be viewed, the centrepiece of which is the famous Flemish collection - a collection of sixteenth century wood or board painted sacred art works from Bruges and Antwerp. Imported during the wealth of sugar cane production on the island. Look out to for the gold-plated silver processional cross - a gift of King Manuel I of Portugal during times of high sugar exportation in the 15 th century.

Madeira Holidays – Shopping

Located in Santa Quitéria, the largest shopping centre in the whole of Madeira, ‘Madeira Shopping', offers shoppers many unique features and many fabulous offers.

Home to well over 80 shops, 20 plus restaurants, a multiplex cinema (showing English films) and ‘Microlândia' (bowling, virtual reality machines and mini golf).

Furthermore, the shopping centre is an ideal venue for disabled or elderly patrons, as it lays on complimentary bus/coach pick ups from allocated stops in and around the shopping complex.
Magnificently designed architecture includes ‘levada's' a ‘lake' and plenty of greenery, reflecting the history and natural beauty of Madeira all in one location.

The Crown Plaza Resort Madeira offers a whole range of traditional and designer goods, giving customers an enchanting all – round shopping experience. A wonderful showcase for traditional Madeiran craftsmanship, products such as fine Madeiran wine, wicker furniture, traditional boots and intricately designed blankets, the Crown Plaza is an ideal vantage place to gather a haul of Madeiran memories. Also, there is a wide range of designer goods to be had at a very fair price, so take advantage while you can.

Madeira Holidays – Restaurants

There are many exceptional restaurants in Madeira, all of which make full use local produce.

Two good all – rounders are the ‘O Jango' and ‘Jaquet at No.5' located in Rua de Santa Maria, Fuchal old town, whilst a traditional meat on a spit meal can be enjoyed at ‘Montanha' (Sítio das Neves).

Fans of fresh seafood should take a jaunt to the waterside ‘Doca do Cavacas' (Estrada Monumental, Ponta de Cruz) which serves up some of the most exquisite fresh fish dishes in town. The most popular cafés are the ‘Funchal' and the ‘Apolo', (Rua Dr António, Almeida), both of which serve an exquisite range of coffee and the local specialty, bolo de mel (honey cake).

Madeira Holidays - Cuisine

A traditional Madeiran favourite, brochettes of lombo (tender pieces of beef) are an integral part of the areas cuisine. Much like a ‘shish kebab', a lombo brochette involves the cooking of cubes of tender beef sprinkled with butter, garlic and salt then skewered and placed over flaming charcoals, giving it a sealed, charcoaled taste. To top it off, fried potatoes or a garden salad are often added as a side to complete a rounded, nutritious meal. Originally the food of villagers living in the forest regions, lombo brochettes are now considered a desirable specialty dish.

Of course, no mention of Madeira could be complete without considering it's wine heritage that has given birth to thousands of palatable tipples over the years, whilst the seafood regularly caught off the coast is a regular and fitting accompaniment in it's regular guises; in salads, grilled and fried.

Madeira Holidays - Weather

Temperatures on the Island of Madeira can range from between a low of 14.2 ° c in February to 24.8 ° c in September.

Archers Direct Holidays

Archers Direct offer a huge range of great holidays including touring holidays (coach holidays), cruises, beach & resort holidays, river cruises, short breaks, multi centre holidays & twin centre holidays, special interest holidays, rail holidays, & safaris.

We offer year round holiday travel so we have hundreds of 2006 & 2007 holiday ideas for summer holidays, winter holidays, Christmas holidays & Xmas holidays, New Year holidays, half term holidays, Easter holidays, school holidays and bank holidays (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November & December).

We fly direct from the following UK airports: London airports - Heathrow airport, Gatwick airport, Luton airport & Stansted airport as well as Birmingham airport, Bristol airport, East Midlands airport, Edinburgh airport, Glasgow airport, Manchester airport, Newcastle airport & Belfast airport.

Booking direct holidays with Archers Direct means you don't pay travel agent's commission, which is great news if you're searching for cheap holidays, bargain holidays, last minute holidays, holiday deals, discount holidays, package holidays & budget holidays. We offer great deals on trips for single travellers and groups and we are we are members of ABTA & ATOL.

View all our holidays to Maderia