The origins of the Flower Festival

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Mad Editor
Festival of the Rose

Festival of the Rose

Did you know that the origins of the Flower Festival were born in the “Festival of the Rose”, organized for the first time in 1955 by Ateneu Comercial do Funchal (Funchal’s Commercial Athenaeum), as part of a contest-exhibition of flowers?

This event distinguished itself by a dance that signalized the beginning of spring and included an exhibition-contest of flowers.

It was in 1955 that the direction of Funchal’s Commercial Athenaeum held a festival entitled “Festival of the Rose” which was part of a contest-exhibition of flowers. This initiative proved a great success by passing its name to as the “Flower Festival” in 1955.

However, only in 1979, the first Flower Festival took place, as a way found to enhance the value of the flower as a factor to boost tourism, becoming into a striking outdoor event where the creative expressions of the people of Madeira are highlighted.

In 1979, the International Year of Children was celebrated and Madeira Tourism Board, with the purpose to enhance the event, conceived the traditional children’s walk to the Town Hall Square in order to build the “Wall of Hope”. This activity joined the Flower Parade and the flower exhibition, art forms that remain until the present day.

This is the perfect date to enjoy further the outstanding beauty of Madeira, already renowned for its spectacular nature, its rich culture and honest hospitality of its people.

Categories: Events, Flowers, Funchal, History | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with Gabriel da Silva

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Mad Editor

Name: Gabriel da Silva (Facebook)

Tell us what you do for a living and do you travel a lot (or not).
I own a restaurant in Santa, Porto Moniz called Churrascaria da Santa. I used to travel a lot but now not so much.

Can you describe Madeira in just only one word?
Breath taking!!

Do you consider Madeira as your home? How long have you been living there?
Madeira is my Home, I was born here but until August 2012 I lived in the UK and previous to that I lived in SA

What are the three best reasons to include Madeira on a travel list?
There are many reasons to include Madeira in a travel list but one of the best is the moderate climate all year round. Another is the fantastic scenery coupled with pure, crisp fresh air.

Funchal - Photo by Don Amaro

Funchal – Photo by Don Amaro

When is the best season to visit Madeira Island?
It depends on what you like, in summer as you might expect, another benefit of visiting Madeira in summer is the cultural/religious celebrations all over the Island. In December you get to see thousands and thousands of light bulbs illuminating out beautiful capital Funchal and not to mention the amazing New Year fireworks display every year.

Tell us about your most favorite and also the least favorite thing about Madeira.
I love the fresh air of the mountains and my least favorite things can be the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Lets talk about food: what is your favorite Madeiran food and that you would suggest everyone should try?
One word: Espetada!!! You have to try it done in the traditional way with bay leaf tree spits!!

What is the first thing you recommend people to do when they arrive in Madeira?
“Adopt” a local, most young people speak English, and they may show you the best places to visit.

Where do you recommend to go for a day trip on Madeira Island?
The north of the Island, mostly unspoiled by progress, so you can enjoy a relaxing day trip.

What is the most famous landmark? And which one is your favorite?
I can`t say that I know of the most famous landmark.

Espetada - Photo by Don Amaro

Espetada – Photo by Don Amaro

Do you have a place on the island where you feel most comfortable, or had the most fun? Where’s your secret hangout place on Madeira?
My favorite place to hang out is in Fonte do Bispo with friends doing my favorite Espetada!!

What do you think of the locals/people from Madeira?
Being a local i`ll have to say that they are great, friendly and helpful.

Do you know an ‘off-the-beaten path’ place in Madeira? Tell us which one.
I`ve been living away for the last 25 years so I can`t say I know of an ”unbeaten path”!

Any other thing(s) about Madeira that travelers should know?
Tip well!!

We love souvenirs! Which one would you suggest us to buy in Madeira Island?
I suggest you buy handmade embroidery and by doing so you are supporting local industry.

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Madeira Flower Festival (Festa da Flor) 2013

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Mad Editor

With the arrival of spring, the city of Funchal turns into a inebriating floral stage filled with enchantment. The island’s mild climate allows a variety of flowers to bloom everywhere, which naturally enchant for the beauty they emanate and the scent they exhale. It is in this unique setting that, once again, the city of Funchal is the stage for a sumptuous display that takes place, during which the flower plays its most important role.

The magic of this event starts on Saturday morning, with the Children’s Parade, on which, hundreds of children dressed for the occasion. The parade ends at the Town Hall Square (Municipio) where the children symbolically place their flowers on the so-called “Wall of Hope” (Muro da Esperança), in an appeal for world peace. The wall set up ends with a release of pigeons and a children’s show.

In the afternoons, the streets of downtown Funchal is filled with music, colors and soft aromas. All attentions are drawn to the central area of Avenida Arriaga, where the Flower Market lends to the downtown area a frenetic pulse of flower selling. Sculptures of flowers made by young people who interact and invite tourists to participate and to register unique images of this event, do justice to the well-known hospitality that characterizes the people of Madeira.

The highlight is the Flower Parade with several groups of over a thousand participants who, bearing costumes depicting flowers, dancing to the sound of exquisitely selected music, through the main arteries of the city, along with fantastic floats, beautifully decorated with many different varieties of flowers of Madeira.

Alongside these events takes place a set of playful and recreational activities filled with charm and symbolism, such as, the construction of delicate floral carpets of unrivaled beauty along the main streets of Funchal, as well as musical concerts, folklore performances from Regional groups, shop window ornamentation and the Flower Exhibition in the Largo da Restauração.

This year the grand Flower Festival takes place from the 9th to the 15th of May, under the motto “The Route of Flowers”.

Update 13-04-2013
The route for the Flower Parade will be different this year. For more information please contact:

Phone: (+351) 291 211 900 or (+351) 291 211 901
Email: info.srt@gov-madeira.pt
Website: www.visitmadeira.pt

Categories: Attractions, Events, Flowers, Funchal, Tips, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with Deborah Holloway

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Mad Editor

Name: Deborah Holloway (Facebook)

Tell us what you do for a living and do you travel a lot (or not)?
I work in a hospital as an imaging technologist. I travel two or three times a year.

Can you describe Madeira in just only one word?
Miraculous!

How many times have you visited Madeira Island? And when was the first time?
Just once-Sept 2012.

Madeira - Deborah Holloway

Madeira – Deborah Holloway

What was the reason for your visit?
Vacation

What are the three best reasons to include Madeira on our travel list?
Natural beauty, incredible views, kind welcoming people.

When is the best season (for you) to travel to Madeira Island?
I think spring but it was lovely in late summer too!

Tell us about your most favorite and also the least favorite thing about Madeira.
The levadas. They are the special, unique and amazing living architectural and beautiful feature of the island! The least favorite? Trying to find a place to do my own laundry-closely followed by trying not to fall down on the steep cobbled streets!

Lets talk about food: what is your favorite Madeiran food and that you would suggest everyone should try?
Mmm-the honey cakes, the bread that is sold on the streets, fresh fruits, and the vinho verde!

What is the first thing you recommend people to do when they arrive in Madeira?
Go on an island driving tour. So much fun. Exiting and very interesting too!

Where do you recommend to go for a day trip on Madeira Island?
A levada tour for sure. It is hard say which one. Maybe start with Ribeiro Frio?

What is the most famous landmark? And which one is your favorite?
I have to say that Reid’s was divine. Tea on the terrace! I also really enjoyed the church at Monte.

Madeira - Deborah Holloway

Madeira – Deborah Holloway

Do you have a place on the island where you feel most comfortable, or had the most fun? Where’s your secret hangout place on Madeira?
I need to come back to decide but I remember loving the north coast. If I tell the name it won’t be a secret but there is a cool little surf break there…

What do you think of the locals/people from Madeira?
I met some very sweet and kind people. No bad experiences!

Do you know an ‘off-the-beaten path’ place in Madeira? Tell us which one.
Levadas again!

We love souvenirs! Which one would you suggest us to buy in Madeira Island?
I love the lace. I bought as much as I could afford. Everyone appreciated gifts of handmade lace!

Any other thing(s) about Madeira that travelers should know?
Go to old town Funchal and shop and stroll and eat and listen to Fado!

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Interview – Jardim Orquídea (Pregetter’s Orchid Garden)

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Mad Editor

Interview with Verena Binder, President of the Fundação Josef Pregetter

Jardim Orquídea

Is the Jardim Orquídea only a garden or more than that?

We want to show how orchids are growing in the wild and to give people a better understanding for these plants. We show from the start (seed) all the stages up to an adult plant.

Who are (were) the people behind this garden project?

Josef Pregetter (my father) started 23 years ago to build the garden, and founded the Josef Pregetter Foundation.

I took over the family business 5 years ago. It is now the 4th family generation working with those wonderful plants. The company started 105 years ago in Austria (Weiz)

What are the goals/objectives of the Jardim Orquídea?

We are collecting and saving orchids in order to them from extinction. Also to keep old species in culture and to give a wider range of people the opportunity to enjoy the fascination of this orchids. So that many later generations of plant lovers can enjoy the beauty of these flowers.

We work together with Universities, Botanical Gardens and other similar institutions as well as with private collectors and orchid lovers. Our investigations allows us to keep old species alive (some of them exist only in this garden) to build a greater interest for nature and to pass our knowledge in workshops and seminars

Also we are hosting students from all over the world, so that they can do their internship at our garden.

How many variety of orchids does the garden have?

We have around 230 species and about 1.500 hybrids.

We have a collection of around 50.000 plants including Bromelias, Tillandsia and many other tropical and subtropical plants.

Why is Madeira Island ideal place for orchids?

The climates is almost perfect for all the existing 30.000 species. We have fresh water, high humidity and pleasant temperatures.

When and what time is the garden open? And where is it located?

We are open every day (except 25th of December) from 9.00h till 18.00h

Fundação Josef Pregetter – Jardim Orquidea
Rua Pita da Silva 37
9060-240 Funchal

200m under the Botanical Garden

Link(s)

www.madeira-orchid.com
www.orchidplantstore.com

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Guinness World Record – Madeira Wine

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Mad Editor

Did you know … that there is an official Guinness World Record for the most varieties of Madeira Wine commercially available?

It is available for purchase at one licensed premises (130 varieties of Madeira Wine) and can be ordered at Katsuhiro Suzuki’s (Japan) bar, ‘Leandro’ in Tokyo, Japan (as of 9 November 2010). Katsuhiro Suzuki began collecting Madiera wine since 1991.

Madeira Wine

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Happy Easter

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Mad Editor

From Ponta do Sol, Madeira Island, we wish you a Happy Easter …

Ponta do Sol

Ponta do Sol, Madeira Island

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Easter on Madeira Island

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Mad Editor

One of the most important religious events in the Archipelago of Madeira is Easter. Locals and tourists visit the various rural areas to see the Way of the Cross, a performance of the reenacting the final hours of Jesus Christ. Various religious events (Masses and Processions) will be taking place in the parishes.

Procession

It is tradition that in the days before Easter locals clean their homes or even the paint, all because the Visit of the Holy Spirit, in which the house and those who live in it are being blessed by the local priest. These visits are also meant to lead the Easter joy, proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Easter Sunday is the most important holy day of the Christian religion here on Madeira. On this day people go to churches and participate in religious ceremonies, for example, the processions.

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Madeira Island – Easter Traditional Games

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Mad Editor

The game Jogo do Balamento and Jogo do Pião (Spinning Top Game) are the oldest traditions of Easter in the Madeira Archipelago.

Jogo do Pião - Spinning Top Game

Jogo do Pião - Spinning Top Game

“Jogo do Balamento” is a game between two people whom they combine a certain time of the day to meet and say the word “Balamento”. The first person finding the other one and says the word first, wins a point. It is played a few weeks before Easter and ends on Good Friday. The loser gives the winner a bonus. Normally, the premium can be almonds or chocolate eggs.

The “Jogo do Pião“ (Spinning Top Game), although played all year long, is a typical game of the Easter season. The aim of this game is to launch the spinning top to the floor, so it rotates and take the other spinning tops outside the circle of the game.

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Interview – ToMadeira.com

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Mad Editor

Interview with the administrator of ToMadeira.com, a Madeira travel platform.

What is ToMadeira.com?

ToMadeiraToMadeira.com (www.tomadeira.com) is a new website fully dedicated to the beautiful archipelago Madeira (including Porto Santo and the Ilhas). On this website you can find background information about the islands, like highlights, history and climate. But also you will find useful tips for your trip and stay on Madeira, compare various travel agents, tour operators and much more…

Who is/are the person(s) behind this website and what do they (does he/she) do?

The website is made by mr. E. Bes from the Netherlands. Though he is an internet entrepreneur, this website is just a personal project.

What is your link/relationship with Madeira?

Mr. E. Bes is an island lover. He visited many islands in Europe, but has a special interest in the Portuguese islands. He visited Madeira in 2005 and the Azores in 2006. He also has a comprehensive website about the Azores (www.azoresweb.com). He is planning to visit Madeira and the Azores in the near future.

What makes Madeira special from other holiday destinations?

Madeira is not a typical sun, beach and nightlife holiday destination. The captivating landscape of Madeira is the primary reason why Madeira attracts a lot of visitors all year round. The beautiful scenery, with lush green hills and mountains, forests and the diverse nature are the main attractions here. You can explore the island and enjoy all kinds of activities on the island, like golf, scuba-diving, surfing, hiking or watch birds, dolphins and whales. Besides this there is an excellent choice in a wide variety of accommodations.

What makes your website different from the other travel guides on the web?

Like other websites ToMadeira gives the basic travel information you want as a tourist. Which travel agents offer holiday packages to Madeira, what is the weather on Madeira in May, what kind of activities one can do on Madeira. The website is currently available in English and Dutch.

But, the website also tries to give insider tips and background information about Madeira, Porto Santo and the Ilhas. Over time the website will continue to grow with help of local people and visitors to achieve this. So, do you have any information, ideas or pictures you want to share please contact ToMadeira.com. Besides this the website also wants to give local businesses and entrepreneurs in Madeira a platform to promote their business online. You can think about holiday homes, but also about tour operators or diving schools.

So instead of being just another travel guide, ToMadeira wants to be an online platform made by local people and business for tourists and visitors.

Link(s)

www.tomadeira.com

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