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Exclusive Property For Sale Funchal - Madeira A Spectacular Classical Villa in its own Walled Gardens |
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Discovery – Location
The Madeiran Archipelago was discovered in the early fifteenth century by João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Portugal. It is part of the EU by virtue of being an autonomous region of Portugal, and the archipelago is made up of the Island of Madeira, the Island of Porto Santo and a number of other currently uninhabited islands known as the Desertas and Selvagens. The archipelago lies about 360 miles from the coast of Africa, 535 miles from Lisbon, 230 miles from Gran Canaria, and 480 miles from Santa Maria, the nearest of the Azores. Madeira Island is the largest island of the group with an area of 741 km2, a length of 30 geographical miles (57 km), a breadth of 13 miles (22 km) at its widest point, and a coastline of 80 to 90 miles. Its longer axis lies east and west, along which lies a mountain chain with a mean altitude of 4000 feet (1220 metres), considered the backbone of the island from which many deep ravines radiate outward to the coast. Its most famous cliff, the Cabo Girão, is one of the biggest in Europe. The highest point on the island is Pico Ruivo, at 1862 meters (6107 feet). |
 |  Calheta Beach & Marina |  Pico do Areiro |  QE2 in Harbour |
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In the south, there is very little left of the indigenous laurisilva forest after which Madeira was named (Madeira means "wood" in Portuguese and interestingly Funchal means "fennel" but that is another story). Once covering the whole island the forests were set fire to by the original settlers to clear the land for farming. However, in the north, the valleys contain native trees of fine growth. These laurisilva forests, notably the forests on the northern slopes of Madeira Island, are designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Madeira Island’s geographical position and mountainous landscape result in a very pleasant climate. With its mild humidity, the weather of the island is classified as subtropical. Influenced by the Gulf Stream, sea water temperature is 22ºC during the summer and 16ºC in the winter. Madeira Events |
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The calendar in Madeira Island each year is punctuated by a series of events that draw tens of thousands of tourists from across the world to witness them.
At the beginning of February the “Rio Style” Madeira Carnival hits the streets of Funchal and is probably the biggest of its kind outside of Rio. In April/May the annual flower festival adorns the streets of Funchal with a display of orchids and exotic flowers culminating in a procession through the streets of Funchal, which has to be experienced to be believed. International Golf and other sporting events e.g. The World Triathlon Championships were held in Funchal in 2005. The first of these is the New Year Firework display which in 2007 entered the guiness book of records as the largest single pyrotechnic display. Watch a short Video of the Record Breaking Firework Display 1.1.2007
The Funchal City Council regularly sponsor international artists to appear and names such as Andrea Bochelli, Nelli Furtado and Vanessa May have been experienced recently. Places to See and things to do |
 Porto Santo Golf Club |  North Coast |  Columbus House |  |
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Madeira is rich in places to see and things to do with literally hundreds of fine restaurants and a very welcoming and friendly population who have a good command of foreign languages (particularly English & German). Golfers are spoilt for choice with two internationally famous courses at Palheiro and Santo da Serra with another planned at Ponta do Pargo (designed by Nick Faldo). The seductive sands of Porto Santo are just a 10 minute flight if you need to escape the sophisticated lifestyle of Funchal and of course there is an International Golf Course there too ! |
2007 All rights reserved E.& O.E