Overall Score
The Archdiocese of Madheira is the autonomous region of Portugal. It includes: Two inhabited islands, Madera and Porto Santo, and smaller islands, uninhabited by people who serve as shelters for seabirds.
Madera Island is the main and largest island in the archipelago. Thanks to its very mild Mediterranean climate, it is a favorite vacation destination for travelers the world over. Since the eighteenth century, Madeira has been a favorite destination for the royal families of Europe. ×Which is unfortunate, given that it lasts all year round: in winter the temperature does not go below +16º and in summer it does not rise above +25º. Anyone who has ever vacationed on Maudaira Island says its the place to be.
Its been almost 600 years since the island was discovered by Captain Zarrak. According to ancient sources, the archipelagos had been discovered earlier, but no one claimed to have discovered them. In his works, Pturatrix mentions the Islands of the Blessed, and, judging by his writing, he is referring to the islands of the Atlantic Ocean – Madeira and Porto Santo. There is also a legend about two people in love: Anne de lArfaîtte and Robert Mashamy, who, fleeing England, were trapped in a shipwreck on the coast of the island of Madeira. This is evidenced by the name of the place called Mashashiku. In naming the place, they used the name of Robert Masham, in memory of a couple who loved each other. These events took place in 1346. And the island was formally discovered in 1419.
The captains – Jean Zarcoux and Tristan Teycheur, also suffered a shipwreck off the coast of the archipelago. They took to the island of Porto Santo, in gratitude for their salvation, and subsequently called it Holy Port. The following year an expedition was organized that resulted in the islands annexation to the Kingdom of Portugal. In order to begin farming, the settlers had to almost completely clear out the ancient forest of Mount Ferdinand. Currently, there is not much left in the southern part of the island, but in the north of Madeira, the Mountains of Monteverde are under the protection of UNESCO. The island was named for these ancient, unforgiving woods, which means woods in Portuguese Madheira.
Originally, the island grew wheat. However, after a while it was not profitable. Then the colonists moved on to grow sugarcane. Thanks to sugarcane production, the economy of the island developed rapidly, and it continued to do so through the seventeenth century. In the beginning of the seventeenth century, cheap Brazilian sugar appeared on the market, which led to a decline in trade in Madeira. But the locals did not give up, and they started growing wine on the plantations where they had grown the sugarcane. The seventeenth century was the age of winegrowing in Mairet. At that time the island was frequently attacked by pirates.
In 1807 it was occupied by the Britons, but a few years later it was reclaimed by the Portuguese. At the same time it was also becoming known as the best seaside resort, on a par with Frances Riviera. The capital of Madeira is the city of Funchal. This beautiful and ancient city is famous not only for its ancient palaces, but also for its modern and comfortable hotels, as well as for its shops with a wide variety of merchandise. Madeira is also famous for its many museums.
The main architectural highlight of the capital may be – the Wine Museum, housed in the ancient 16th century French Monastery.
The Museum of Modern Art is at the Fort of St. Jacob. It has the richest collection of Portuguese Portuguese art, from the second half of the 20th century to the present day.
Visiting the Museum of Sacred Art, one can see the richest collection of Flemish painting and religious art from the 16th & 18th centuries, as well as works of art from that period.
The traveler Christopher Columbus could be visited at the Mariu Bárbálys Museum and Library of Mariu Bárbálys de Vascocoincélus.
In order to get to know the art of the local artists, the Museum of the Frédéric Brothers is worth a visit.
The Natural History Museum and the Kinta das Kruzisches Museum and Museum-Museum of the Archaeological Park can also be visited to see the natural treasures of the archaeological site, as well as its rich flora and fauna.
Even more interesting are the Visentia Museum of Photography, the Museum of the City of Sahara, the Museum of Decorations, the Museum of Painted Art, the Museum of the Monthly Pylas, the Ethnographic Museum of Robeira Brava, the Museum of the Museum Complex of Rota da Cala. And thats far from all of the museums on the island of Madera.
It is possible to admire the natural landscapes of Câmara de Lobouche, to visit: the Womens Monastery of Saint Clare (16th century) in the Côrral das Frérieurs, the aquapark, the Botanical Garden and the Orchid Garden.
You can also visit the natural corner of – the island of Porto Santo with the beautiful Vila Baleira, which has a remarkable Thalassotherapy Center.
Overall Score
- Tap water: Yes, safe to drink
- Religious government: Non-religious
- Population: 110,000 people
- GDP: $19,750 / year
- Foreigners can own real estate: Yes
- Power outlets: 230V50Hz
- Internet: 34 Mbps
- Best wireless: Vodafone
- Pay without cash: Yes, cards OK almost everywhere
- Tipping: Tipping 5% – 10% in restaurants is standard, although tipping should only be provided with the chance that you are extremely happy with the service. No tip is expected for some coffee/espresso or a beverage, although some people might leave the change, round up to the closest Euro (example 1,85 to 2EUR).
- Apartment listings: Era
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best taxi: Uber
- Best coworking space: Cowork Funchal
- Online electronics shop: Fnac
- Best short-haul air carrier: TAP
- Best intl air carrier: TAP
- Monthly costs for expat: $1450
- Monthly costs for family: $2700
- Monthly costs for local: $750
- Meal: $8.5
- Small Cola: $1.4
- Beer 1 Pint: $4.5
- Coffee: $3
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