"Madeira" a Funchal Travel Page by seagoingJLW

Madeira is in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is part of an archipelago which includes Porto Santo Island and the uninhabited islands Desertas and Selvagens. It occupieas an area of 741 sq. km approximately 700 miles from the African continent.

The city of Funchal has 120,00 of the island's population of 260,000.

The name Madeira (wood) comes from the dense forest and vegetation that the first discoverers saw. It is a volcanic island marked by fresh-water springs. It has a mild climate due to its geographical location.

The island of Madeira is drenched with flowers and has a wonderful climate. What a place to vacation in! It was discovered in 1419 by Joao Goncalves Zarco and Tristao Vaz Teixeira. Sugar cane and grapes were produced and trade was established with Italy, England and Flanders.

The French pirate, Bertrand de Montluc, sacked Funchal in 1566. Fourteen years later, Portugal came under Spanish rule. Portugal regained sovereignty after 60 years. After the marriage of Catherine of Braganca to England's Charles II in 1662, Portugal granted trading privileges in Madeira to England and British wine merchants settled on the island.

In 1902 Madeira won self government. Seaplane service from Britain to Portugal was started in 1949 and tourism has prospered ever since.