In the Atlantic Ocean, in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, lies the beautiful island of Madeira, which belongs to Portugal. Due to its pristine beauty and mild local climate, it is called the island of eternal spring.
It is not surprising that the said island is one of the most popular year-round holiday destinations. Here you can not only have a great rest, but also see unforgettable landscapes of mountain ranges with abundant vegetation. A real luxurious garden with a huge variety of flowers is also Madeira. The sights of this heavenly corner of the globe are, first of all, nature itself: massive black cliffs, mysterious gorges, banana groves, impenetrable forests. Near the island, the sea is so deep that the whales can safely swim almost to the very shore.
Funchal is the capital of Madeira. Cityspread out along the coast. There are many interesting places and buildings here. The first thing that catches your eye is the amazing streets paved with paving stones. There are many fountains in the city, and the squares will please the guests of the city with unique monuments. The first thing to see is the historical center of the capital of the island of Madeira. The sights of this mysterious place can be collected in a single list, and the first among them will be an old French monastery built in the 16th century. However, now it produces the most famous wine. Guests of the island will be able not only to get acquainted with the production technology, but also to taste the famous drink.
What else will surprise holidaymakers on the island of Madeira? Attractions here can be found literally everywhere. Here, for example, is the defensive fortress of Castello de Pico. This building now houses a museum and a gendarmerie. Among other architectural structures, the Palace of St. Lawrence should be noted.
To diversify the inspection of buildings and structures, a trip to museums, of which there are quite a lot, will help. The most popular is the Natural Science Museum. The Museum of Art is also of interest to tourists.
After visiting the capital, guests, as a rule, proceed to explore other settlements located on the territory of the island of Madeira. Sights that deserve attention are in almost every one of them. The most popular place is the fishing village of Camara de Lobos. This is a picturesque village with colorful boats on whichyou can take an exciting walk. It is here that there are restaurants and bars dedicated to the politician W. Churchill. An equally popular village is Curral das Freiras. It is located in the crater of a long-extinct volcano. Here rises the convent of St. Clare, built in the 16th century. It will be interesting to visit the village of Santana with its triangular houses with thatched roofs.
But that's not all Madeira has to offer, with attractions including unique natural lava pools. They concentrated in the city of Porto Moniz, which is located 75 kilometers from the capital. In addition, tourists try to visit the sheer cliff of Cabo Girao, which is considered the second largest in the world. And in the Valley of the Nuns, a chestnut festival is held annually on September 1.
Sights of Madeira Island include gardens, of which there are quite a few. For example, at the top of Monto there is a magnificent tropical garden. The botanical garden also deserves attention, where a unique collection of exotic plants is collected, as well as a museum of nature. Especially popular with tourists is the orchid garden with rare specimens. Once in Sao Gonzalo, don't forget to visit the Dragon Tree Park.
