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Location Guide ~ Madeira
Two beautiful, lush, Portugese Islands situated in the Atlantic off the African Coast. Famous for their all year round sunshine and beautiful array of tropical flowers, these Islands, part of the EU, are a popular travel and residential destination.
- Madeira & Porto Santo
Madeira is
situated in the mid-Atlantic, 565 km off the North African
coast, due west of Agadir. Only 741 square
kilometres in size, it has a population of
250,000 people, of which nearly half live
within the Bay of Funchal. The language
is Portuguese
The island is predominantly dense
woodland, rising sharply from the sea.
Its tropical climate (between 19 and
23oC all year round) gives an amazing
range of vegetation, from banana
plantations, to exotic
flowers and beautiful
wildlife. As well as, of
course, the vines that
make the famous Madeira
wines.
Recreation There are two golf-courses on the island, but in the near future there are plans for a third on the west of the island along with six new marinas.This will enhance Madeira's reputation for watersports, with biggame fishing, diving schools and jet skiing.Windsurfing is very popular on the north of the island where the Atlantic rollers take your breath away. Mountain biking, paragliding and tennis are all catered for.
Funchal is
the main town on the island, likened by
many to Monte
Carlo. It offers
wonderful
restaurants,
cafes and bars;
there are many
chic shops, an
opera house,
casino and a
multi-screen
cinema. The
flower, fish and fruit market is a must see
for all serious shoppers. There is a
Roman Catholic cathedral and an
English Anglican church. A delightful
cosmopolitan city.
Madeira has been popular with British
tourists for many years, offering many
four and five star hotels, all of which offer
service second to none. Because of the
wonderful climate, walking is a hugely
popular pastime for all ages and the walk
along the levadas, the irrigation
channels running
along the contours
of the island running
the water from the
north to the south of
the island, make it
easy and accessible
to everyone.
There is a cable car
rising from the
centre of Funchal
which takes one
swiftly and
breathtakingly up to
the top of the island. Here you will find
the famous Monte Palace and tropical
gardens, feel free to wander for hours in
the shade and rest amongst the beautiful
flora and fauna. A true delight for all
your senses.
A must see for all visitors is the Madeira
Orchid Farm, as are the A frame houses
(pictured above) of Santana on the north
of the island.
Madeira is becoming popular with those wishing to buy a second home. Its wonderful climate both in winter and summer makes for comfortable living. Apartments are not in abundance outside of Funchal so clients are advised to purchase existing properties or to buy land to build on. The two most popular areas outside of Funchal are west of the town of Canhas and Caleta and are the sites of the new marinas and golf course. The infrastructure for these marinas is going on at present together with this will come beautiful promenades, restaurants and shops.
Porto SantoNext
to the island of Madeira can be found the smaller island of
Porto Santo, which is in the same embryonic state of development as Madeira.
The island was named by Portuguese discoverers after many days at sea. (The
name literally means "blessed port"). Today there are lots of less stormy ways
of getting to Porto Santo, though you will continue to find
the same qualities that gave the island its name. A totally
unspoilt island that boasts a five mile long beach, it is the
perfect place to relax and unwind in beautiful and unsophisticated
surroundings with that wonderful all year round warm climate. It is known as
the "golden isle, because of its arid landscape full of warm shades of brown
and yellow. The first golf course opened in Porto Santo in
October 2004.
Property is difficult to come by in Madeira and Porto Santo and estate agents are hard to find with virtually none having street level access and advertising is not a common occurrence. The best way to overcome this is to start your search in the UK with Aquavista Property Consultants. With our consultants in Madeira we can source the properties for you, arrange a viewing trip and take you through the procedure every step of the way.