This volcanic island was one of the first discoveries of the Portuguese Navigators, and owes its descriptive name to a landscape of luxuriant vegetation. The island has seen the rich and the famous come and go for centuries. Royalty and writers rub shoulders with actors and politicians. Columbus lived in Porto Santo, the other island of the archipelago. Churchill painted the landscapes of Câmara de Lobos.
The capital is Funchal, built on the slopes of a mountain and cascading down to the sea. It has everything a city requires without the shortcomings. The city market leaves a profound impression of movement and colour. The animated vendors, selling flowers and fruits, vegetables and handcrafts. For nature lovers, a most pleasant way of exploring Madeira is to walk along the levadas, the canals that used to carry the waters from the mountains to the lowlands. There is a huge range of other activities – especially water sports. Diving, deep–sea fishing, water skiing, sailing and wind surfing are all represented. For real thrill-seekers, try the unique experience of Carros de Cestos, a toboggan–type vehicle expertly driven by two men down the cobbled slopes from Terreiro da Luta to Funchal. Once there you can enjoy a busy night life where restaurants, casino, bars and clubs all have a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere. Savour your holiday on the Madeiran Archipelago; you will know then why they call it the ‘ Pearl of  the Atlantic‘.