Our ‘Come on over to my place’ series continues with a post from Sofia Vasconcelos who blogs at From Madeira to Mars. http://frommadeiratomars.com/ In this regular slot, travel bloggers who have made a permanent home outside of the UK show you round their beloved landscape. Here, Ana takes us through the four seasons in Madeira; a Portugese Archipelago in the Atlantic. We feel like packing our bags already…
When people ask me regarding the best Season to visit Madeira Island, I have to think twice before answering… here’s why:
Spring
Spring equals flowers, purple jacaranda trees, fireworks, vintage cars and art displays.
It is also the peak season for Tourism because of the Madeira Flower Festival.They say “Madeira is a garden” and this Festival is a celebration of Spring and the beauty of the local flora. During this time the locals build floral carpets in the main streets of Funchal. There is the ceremonial “Wall of Hope”, a local tradition in which hundreds of children place a flower in a mural in a tribute to world peace. The biggest festivity is the Grand Flower Parade which exhibits flower-decorated cars that float along the streets followed by hundreds of locals (mainly children) dancing along Funchal´s seafront.
During spring, the Reids Palace Hotel hosts the Reids Auto Classic Show, an annual event that exhibits hundreds of classic and vintage cars and motor vehicles, awarding prizes to the best examples. There is also a car race, the “Rampa dos Barreiros”, an uphill race run for the first time in 1935.
The Atlantic Festival is one of the more recently developed events in Funchal. It started in 2002 and consists of diverse initiatives spread throughout the month of June. Pyromusical shows are aired at the pier during 4 saturday nights of the month. Here firework companies compete for a trophy. The award is voted by the public, through the Internet and in drop-boxes located around Funchal.
Madeira Music Festival also takes place in Spring. Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre in Funchal and Casa das Mudas Art Centre in Calheta feature musical performances by Portuguese and international artists.
Arts Week shares the artistic skills of about 4000 students from the local schools bringing art into the streets bonding locals and tourists.
Summer
Summer means Beach, Golf, wine, parties and total relaxation. (Usually mild temperatures 25ºC).
Although many locals go to the beach all year round, this is one of the best seasons to enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic and wandering along the 9km long golden sand beaches of neighbouring Island.
Porto Santo.
The Columbus Festival also takes place in Porto Santo, in September. In this Festival people dress up in old costumes and recreate the time of Portuguese discoveries, when Cristopher Columbus lived on this island. Festivities include disembarkation by nightfall and people gather on the beach to see a replica of Columbus’ ship, the Santa Maria arriving. Then, a welcoming parade through the main streets of the island takes place. There is also a sixteenth-century market with food, crafts, music, circus arts and theatrical scenes.
If you’re a golf lover, Santo da Serra golf course has one of the most spectacular views. It is the venue of the 2015 edition of the PGA European Tour (Madeira part).This is also the time when migratory Madeirans come back home to spend their holiday, so there are typical regional festivities (“arraiais”), happening all over the island with food and drink stalls and lots of entertainment, provided by DJs with live disco, folk groups and music bands.
The Wine Festival also happens in late Summer and recreates old traditions developed in the history of Madeira wine. These include treading of the grapes using traditional press, folklore, street entertainment food and of course wine tasting.
Autumn
This is one of my most favourite seasons, the weather is warmer than most parts of Europe and the trees start to shed their flowers, creating the most beautiful coloured carpets adorning the streets. The sea temperature is usualy higher than summer and beaches get quieter bringing a peaceful ambience into our lives.
The Madeira Nature Festival also takes place in October. It’s meant to encourage the contact with the Natural heritage of Madeira. People can experience a wide range of activities suitable for all ages on air (paragliding), land (biking, canyoning and trekking) or sea (diving, surfing, whale watching). There are more than 3,000 km of irrigation channels (levadas) where you can walk the most beautiful areas of Laurissilva forest, classified as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. (This is one activity you can’t miss, once you’re in Madeira no matter which season you visit).
Livening up the Festival there’s also a Photography competition: “ Celebrating Nature”.
Winter
Winter means Christmas lights, joy, good food and celebrations. (Usually mild temperatures 15ºC)
The Madeiran New Year’s Eve Fireworks displayed in 2006/2007 won the Guinness world record certificate for the largest fireworks show in the world.
In February we celebrate Carnival or “Carnaval” with the night allegoric parade going through the town centre. Thousands of locals dress up in creative costumes dancing and partying on the streets to the sound of music, drums and whistles.
Porto Bay Hotel hosts the Stars Route Festival, which is one of the most important haute cuisine events in Portugal. It is an itinerant cuisine festival that gives foodies an opportunity to taste the best Portugal has to offer. It involves Portuguese and foreign chefs who have been awarded the famous Michelin star. The festival starts at Il gallo d’oro restaurant in Cliff Bay Hotel and then continues at other Michelin-starred restaurants all over Portugal.
So as you can see, when to visit Madeira is not an easy choice. There is so much to see and experience which makes blogging about Madeira a never ending love story…just make sure you come and choose your favourite 😉
