The Archipielago
of Madeira:
Located 978 km from the southeast of Lisbon and
545 km from Africa , the archipelago of Madeira
is constituted by the islands of Madeira and Porto
Santo, the only inhabited islands, and by the groups
of Las Desertas and Las Salvagens. The main island,
baptized as Madeira due to the forests that used
to cover it, is constituted by a mountainous massif
of volcanic origin, which descends steeply upon
the sea from the 1810 meters of the Ruivo Peak
. On the terraces of the defiles, grapes, bananas,
passionfruits and apples are cultivated. The botanic
gardens located on the northern hills of Funchal,
the capital, contain a wide range of plants. Funchal,
which expands along the south-eastern bay, lodges
a third part of the total population of the island,
300,000 inhabitants. Most of the hotels, attractions,
cultural activities and museums are located at
Funchal. In the southern coast of the island stand
out the Câmara do Lobos village, with its
coloured fishing boats, and the striking Cape Girão
. Apart from São Vicente , the main town
of the north, there are natural pools at the northern
coast, located among volcanic reefs (Porto Moniz);
there are also colonial houses at Ponta delgada
, and the thatched roofs of Santana. The Porto
Santo offers a flatter relief, with a highest altitude
of 507 meters and a beach of 7 km in the southern
coast.
| Portugal
Tourism Office |
 Paseo
de la Castellana, 141; piso 17
28046 Madrid
Phone: 91 761 72 30
www.portugalinsite.pt |
| Madeira
Regional Tourism Office |
Avenida Arriaga, 18
9004-419 Funchal
Phone: 351 291 211900
E-mail: info@madeiratourism.org
www.madeiratourism.org
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