The Autonomous Region of Madeira includes a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Africa. They are characterized by subtropical vegetation and diverse terrain, and the local gardens are known all over the world.
The capital of the district is Funchal, a city founded in the time of Columbus, with nice white buildings, characteristic of the Portuguese colonial style. The city's attraction are the gardens and parks located on the slopes of the mountains, whose vegetation blooms almost all year round.
Madeira is one of the most scenic regions of Portugal. The interior of the island is mountainous, covered with laurel and subtropical forests. Laurel forests, which have been preserved here as one of the few places in the world, are inscribed on the UNESCO list.
The island is crossed by numerous hiking trails that lead through picturesque viewpoints and along the irrigation canals of forests and pineapple plantations. From many of them you can admire the fragmented coast full of coves.
Lovers at the seaside will also find something for themselves in Madeira. There are quite a few nice beaches here, and some of them were artificially created by bringing sand from Africa.
