Madeira island is one of Europe's oldest travel locations and many thousands of tourists return year after year. Why? Madeira offers not only a pleasant year round climate and wonderful fauna and flora - Madeira is also virtually crime free and one of the safest holiday destinations in the world! Come in and discover Madeira. If you look at the size of Madeira, you can hardly imagine that this island has so much to offer! From many historical monuments, squares and streets in the capital of Funchal to enchanting gardens, picturesque villages, amazing landscapes, impressive volcanic caves, rugged coast lines, beautiful natural beaches and, last but not least, breathtaking views, there is so much to see that you will soon realize that one visit to Madeira just isnt enough! To help you put together your own itinerary of the places you would like to explore on your first visit to Madeira or of all the sites you havent seen yet you will find on the following pages all the information needed about the most interesting and attractive places to see. Just start navigating! Interactive Island Tour. Caves of Sao Vicente. Funchal's Historical Nucleus. Museums Opening Hours. Madeira's almost five-century-old capital is said to have been named 'Funchal' because of the abundance of fennel (funcho) that was growing there. Funchal is located in an absolutely unique area. The amphitheatre of Funchal city begins at the harbour and rises almost 1200 m high on gentle slopes. This provides a natural shelter and was what once attracted the first settlers. The best harbour and the best climate combined with an excellent geographical position allowed Funchal to have a rapid population growth. Today Funchal is a very modern city with over 104.000 inhabitants. This does however mean that traffic congestion in the centre can become sometimes quite confusing. The city can easily be explored by foot and no matter where your hotel is located (as long as it is in the Funchal tourist area) you will find no difficulty in walking into the city centre to delight at its sights and sounds. Probably the most central point is the Se Cathedral. Built between 1493 and 1514 by Gil Eanes it represents one of Madeira's numerous treasures. It was this traditional fishing village, situated five kilometres from Funchal, which inspired the late Sir Winston Churchill to paint its lovely surroundings. The village was given its name by the explorers Joao Goncalves Zarco and Tristao Vaz Teixeira because of the shape of its bay and the many sea lions (lobos) living there at the time. Camara de Lobos, apart from its wonderful bay, has several points of interest such as Pico da Torre, Curral das Freiras, Boca dos Namorados, Boca da Corrida and Cabo Girao. Coming from Funchal, when you arrive at this recently designated city, you will be faced with a dazzling bay, the full beauty of which can only best admired from Pico da Torre. Going towards Estreito de Camara de Lobos parish, you will see that the banana plantations give way to vineyards and then, a little further up, to cherries. Once in Estreito de Camara de Lobos, you should visit the mother church and move forward to Jardim da Serra parish, where you have two options: go to Boca dos Namorados and admire the dazzling landscape of Curral das Freiras or pass through Boca da Corrida and finally stop at Quinta do Jardim da Serra. Not easy to be missed, the Cabo Girao (second highest cliff in the world) will present you with breathtaking panoramic views. Absolutely amazing... Camara de Lobos is also home of the poncha, a mixture of lemon juice, honey and sugarcane spirit, available at the many local taverns. _Jardim do mar. Jardim do Mar (literally garden of the sea) was first under the authority of Prazeres and Paul do Mar, gaining its independence in the 18th century. Its name originates in the transition between steep slopes without vegetation and a wonderful green seaside resort that was once covered with a mantle of wild flowers. Surrounded by the sea and cloaked by the mountains, this parish preserves the tranquillity of the old days, of which the old narrow streets and low-level houses with different shapes of chimneys still bear witness. Jardim do Mar became the islands meeting point for the international surfing community. Due to its location, the Madeira archipelago is a privileged spot to receive swells of the North Atlantic and has all sorts of waves, from point breaks to reef breaks. _Pico Ruivo. Pico Ruivo can be reached from both Pico do Arieiro and the village of Santana. With an altitude of 1861 meters it is the highest peak on the island. During the summer months a state run refuge is open directly beneath the summit. Do call the Tourist Office in Funchal to ask about vacancies. During the winter the peaks are often covered with snow. Walking at this altitude can become quite dangerous due to sudden weather changes - so be prepared! However, anyone willing to make the strenuous walk will be generously rewarded with superb views all over the island. _Curral das Freiras. Curral das Freiras ('Nuns Valley') is a small village nestling between almost perpendicular mountains in the heart of the island. The huge cauldron in which Curral das Freiras is sitting was either formed by erosion, which is the more recent theory, or as many still believe, by volcanic activity. In 1566 the nuns from the Santa Clara convent fled from pirates attacking Funchal and found seclusion here where they also brought the convent treasure. The village is very isolated and locals mainly live of what they grow. The local chestnuts are delicious and are used in everyday cooking. Curral das Freiras was the property of a couple that sold this land to the captain of Funchal, Joao Goncalves da Camara. This captain gave the lands to his daughters when they entered into the Santa Clara convent (also built by him). Todays Nuns Valley has a great annual celebration. Every year locals celebrate the Chestnut Festival this festival originated when the local parish had a surplus of chestnuts. They were then used in several culinary delights from soup to cakes and from pudding to liqueur. Today the festival is a big attraction with plenty of food, music, dancing and of course wine. There is a wide range of opportunities to satisfy your leisure requirements. The Atlantic invites you to go sailing, whale dolphin spotting and of course swimming. Sea temperatures vary between 18 to 24 ºC depending on the time of year. For enthusiasts, the Garajau coast line offers one of Europe's first underwater nature reserves. Back on land there is a vast amount of leisure activities available. The listings below will help you to find the things you love to do - and who you can do them with. Low Cost Island Tours. Riding, Tennis Golf. Whale Dolphin Spotting. Cable Cars Elevators. Ferry to Porto Santo. Monte Toboggan Rides. Whoever says that Madeira is not the place where you find nice things to shop will be proven wrong! During the last years a big development has taken place in this field, so that we are very sure you will find something special for you to take home to prolong your memories of an excellent time passed in Madeira or for family and friends to give them an appetite for visiting Madeira and discover this beautiful island for themselves! Here are some suggestions for extensive and enjoyable shopping sprees! Shopping Centres Shopping centres are not what is missing in Madeira as there are plenty of them and most of them are located in the centre of Funchal. The good thing about shopping centres is that they are usually open throughout the week from 10.00 to 22.00 hours. Lets start at the beginning of the Avenida Arriaga with the Marina Shopping, the biggest shopping centre in downtown Funchal, opposite the marina. Then a few steps further along towards the Cathedral you...

WELCOME HOTEL DUAS TORRES! Situated by the sea and only 3,5 Kms from the centre of Funchal, Hotel Duas Torres offers you excellent accommodation in large studios with private bath, telephone, T.V. and balcony, most of them with a direct view over the Atlantic.The amenities of Duas Torres comprises of a restaurant where Portuguese and international food is served, a very popular bar, where music for dancing is played every night, swimming-pool, laundry service, tennis court and sun terraces.

 Guest rooms have air conditioning
 Luggage storage
 Playground for children
 Credit cards accepted
 Dinner may be served in the room
 Lift
 Facsimile services
 Access to internet
 Kitchen
 Laundry services/washing machine
 Licensed bar
 Around-the-clock recetpion
 Parking lot
 Private park, garden, courtyard
 Quiet surroundings
 Fridge
 Restaurant
 Safe deposit box
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Animation, entertainment
 Swimming pool
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 Phones in rooms
 TV sets in rooms
 Tennis court
 Patio, summer terrace
 Common room with a TV set