Discovering the Universe of Memories of João Carlos Abreu Life is made of memories, as evidenced by the Universe of Madeiran João Carlos Abreu. This museum is located in São Pedro, in a palace from the 19th century. It also has a beautiful garden and a friendly tea house with delicious cakes and homemade teas. It houses the memories of João Carlos Abreu, journalist, traveler, poet, writer, politician, actor, artist and also former regional director of tourism of Madeira with passage through several countries of the world. He was awarded multiple awards in the areas of tourism and culture. Events such as the Flor Festival, Wine Festival, Carnival Parade, New Year’s Festival and Atlantic Festival are part of its initiative. He has published hundreds of chronicles, two Madeira tourist guides, ten poetry books and six prose books. He is currently engaged in writing, theater, travel, painting and humanitarian causes. The variety of objects, jewels, clothing, furniture, paintings, statues and passports is breathtaking, the result of an intense, rich and challenging life, built from travel stories. …

I am always happy that anyone wants to visit me and my city – Funchal. You see we (the madeirans) share this passion for the Island and we want visitors to experience the best spots. Funchal is a beautiful city. I know I’m biased since I just love living here (the more I travel the more I appreciate the benefits of this Island), but I challenge you to spend a few days in Funchal and then you can see it for yourself. Here I share 5 cool things to do when someone visits Funchal: # 1 Head to Largo do Socorro Funchal, the capital of Madeira, has three historic districts: Santa Maria (renown as Old Town), São Pedro and Sé. Santa Maria São Pedro |This photo was courtesy of Budgettraveller Sé Cathedral Many of the streets in these areas of Funchal are pedestrian, which means strolling around, photographing and discovering palaces, manor houses from the XIX century (which are now museums), viewpoints overlooking the sea, houses with flower gardens and typical Madeiran pavements made with …

Palheiro Gardens I’ve been told that, in the times that Portugal was ruled by a dictator named Salazar, these gardens were the perfect getaway to meet your lover, away from the crouds and surrounded by the most dreamy sceneries. I was pleased to see that the outstanding variety of flowers, such as magnolias, camellias, roses and exquisite trees are very well looked after, inspiring and well worth a visit, even if not for romantic purposes. You can easily spend a nice afternoon there, sitting under the trees, reading a book or admiring the beauty of this place. Palheiro gardens used to be a hunting resort for the Carvalhal Count in the 19th century. This property was bought in 1885 by the Blandy’s Family, remaining in this family throughout generations until the present days. Here you can also find a golf course and a stunning Hotel, Casa Velha do Palheiro, which belongs to the chain of Hotels Relais and Chateaux. The views over the bay of Funchal are so beautiful and being at 500 meters above …

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Despite being in the reach of all those who want to discover Funchal ‘secret places’, this city can still surprise me with unexpected revelations. “Secrets” which are no secret, this post talks more about discoveries in my own city, which share here with you. I hope it inspires you to discover how do your “secret places” in Funchal, look like… Location: Sao Pedro Imagine a neighborhood in the city center, with narrow and steep streets that run towards the sea. It was in the fifteenth century, that the Madeiran families started living in this area, away from Santa Maria do Calhau, now known as Old Town. The houses of this neighborhood have wooden blinders, walls in warm colors and small gardens with bougainvillea. Here one feels the silence, sometimes interrupted by the voices that echo from the televisions. This is where I live, ‘my neighborhood’; Sao Pedro. For me, this area has a special charm. It reminds me of the streets of my childhood, which used to be my playground, …

Free Travel Guide To Madeira Great places to eat, see, drink and enjoy – tips from a local! (I did this guide once for a friend of a friend that came to Madeira for the first time, a few months ago. It was based on my personal preferences. I’ve decided to share it on the blog so that you can use it and share it as an extra help on planning your stay. Hope you enjoy it and find it useful. ) If you’re coming to Funchal, you should allow yourself at least 3 nights stay. There’s so much to see, taste and enjoy, you’ll leave with the will to come back for more, or at least I hope you do, with my tips 🙂 If you want to explore the full Island then come for at least 6 nights and rent a car to make the most of your time. (If you don’t like driving then there are also many tours available. You can book them directly at your hotel or online .) If you’re a beach …