Situated some 800 km from the African coast and 1000 km from Portugal, Madeira is an island (almost) lost in the Atlantic, which has also developed thanks to its port of call, important for crossings between Europe and the African and American continents. Even today, the port of Funchal is busy with cruise ships. As the center of the island is very wild – and now protected – the inhabitants have spread out to the coasts, and in particular to Funchal, where 37% of Madeira’s population reside.
When walking around Madeira, we often keep an eye on the Atlantic Ocean that surrounds us. The question of fresh water has long since been resolved thanks to the thousands of kilometers of levadas that bring water from the center of the island for crop irrigation or human consumption. Madeira’s beaches are few and far between, with only a few pebble beaches for sunbathing in the fairly harsh sun at this latitude. The sunsets are often magnificent, flooding Funchal and its surroundings with a soft light, in harmony with its year-round temperate climate.
The visit to Funchal was made in August 2018.
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