Madeira - autonomous province of Portugal and the largest island in the same archipelago, 500 km from the African coast. This small part of the land, size 22*57 km, is covered with natural and miraculous wonders. The temperate climate of the island is one of the most mild in the world. In the winter months, temperature on the coast drops only to 15-17 degrees Celsius.

The first vivid emotions can occur during landing of the plane at the airport of Funchal. The takeoff and landing runway is designed in such a way that pilots have to perform a unusual maneuver during landing. And when strong wind is present, not all planes can land on the first attempt.

On walks around Funchal it's worth spending at least a couple of days. There is a port in the city, where large cruise ships dock on their way from Europe to America. Many interesting attractions are located close to the port. Have a walk to the local market, where a variety of exotic fruit and souvenir shops are located. One of the unusual fruits - in a literal sense, a bananas, but in fact the fruit of the liana, Monstera deliciosa - is sold on the market. Bought on the market - didn't make a proper impression, being neither sweet, nor having a strongly expressed fruit flavor. From the market go alleys of the old city, with beautiful old houses decorated with colorful graphics. Often you'll find souvenir and clothing stores as well as small restaurants with outdoor seating in the summer. The island is well known for its traditional drink - mada. The production process of this wine is different - it's drawn from casks in heated rooms. Due to the warm climate, often these are the upper floors of wine cellars, which is heated up to temperatures of 30-40 degrees Celsius. You can take a tour with a lecture and tasting Madeira wine at Blandy's Wine Lodge in the center of Funchal.

Near the market and the old town, there is a cable car station that takes you up to Monte Palace Madeira Park. During the ten-minute ride on the funicular, you can see the gentle hills of Funchal with small houses with tiled roofs, the city bay and the port in the distance. The park covers an area of 7 hectares on the slopes of the hill. The dense crowns of trees create deep shade, filled with a multitude of aromas. The park houses an incredible collection of exotic plants from all over the world: more than 60 species of palms, tree ferns, thousand-year-old olives, and many types of flowers. The luxurious mansion located in the center of the park was once the popular Monte Palace Hotel. From the platform in front of it, there is a breathtaking view of the Funchal bay. The park is divided into themed areas, including two oriental gardens dedicated to Chinese and Japanese culture, a collection of minerals and precious stones, an exhibition of tiles from the 15th-20th centuries, and an exhibition of African sculptures. The park is a popular place among tourists, but if you come at the time of opening or before sunset, you can walk around it almost without meeting other travelers. Perhaps this is the most beautiful park I have visited during my travels around the world.

The island of Madeira has a volcanic origin, so the central part of it is endless steep slopes and deep valleys. You can feel this feature of the relief from the first minutes of driving a rented car. The main road of the island passes through the vicinity of Funchal. However, there are almost no straight sections on it. The bends of the road are constantly replaced by tunnels and bridges. Therefore, the maximum speed on the highway is limited to 80-90 km / h. When turning onto secondary roads, the asphalt pavement immediately narrows, long serpentines and steep climb begins. Passing some turns, you sometimes catch yourself thinking: how do big tourist buses pass here? :) Despite the small size of the island, such winding roads significantly increase the time of trips to many attractions. Viewpoints are scattered all over Madeira, almost all of them are marked on maps, many of them are located near the road. One of the popular viewpoints, Miradouro do Cabo Girão, is located at an altitude of 580 m on the cape of Girão - the highest cliff cape in Europe. Part of the pavement hanging over the abyss is made of glass.

On the way to the central part of the island, the landscape changes every few kilometers: views of the coast from a height, mountain ranges with deep gorges, rapid rivers with picturesque waterfalls. Along the way, an irresistible desire arises to stop often, contemplate and photograph this majestic beauty. One of the fantastic places in the center of the island is the trail between the peaks of Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo. If you stop in the southern part of the island, in the vicinity of Funchal, the nearest will be Pico do Areeiro (1817 m). When it is clear on the coast and +25 degrees, in the mountains it will be 10 degrees cooler. Due to the temperature difference, clouds form in the gorges on both sides of the trail. Often they quickly cover the peaks and the trail itself of brown stone and just as quickly move away. The constantly changing landscape in the clouds, pierced by sunlight, produces a truly stunning impression. The length of the trail is 7 km. Medium physical fitness is required to pass it due to constant steep descents and climbs.

The easternmost part of the island is Cape San Lorenzo. It is a long, winding stretch of land with steep basalt cliffs and breathtaking scenery. The cape has a semi-arid climate with prevailing northern winds, making its landscape different from the rest of the island. There is sparse vegetation and no trees. A 3.5 km tourist trail runs along the peninsula, with a free car park at the start. During the day, the trail is often crowded with travelers, and it can get quite hot and sunny with no shady spots along the route, so it`s better to arrive early in the morning. Along the way, there are two rocky beaches where you can take a break and swim in the turquoise waters.

Another must-visit place is Fanal Forest. This is an ancient laurel forest on a small plateau at an altitude of about 1200 meters. It is always cool there and the hills are often shrouded in clouds. The oddly curved trees in the mist evoke associations with an otherworldly landscape. Occasionally, through the mist, the silhouettes of a few tourists with cameras in their hands and on tripods can be seen. It is often windy on the plateau and then the clouds quickly pass by, through them the sunlight flashes and in an instant the gray veil is replaced by bright colors. The grass and foliage become emerald in the sun's rays. And at sunset, the clouds are filled with golden light and the landscape changes again.