Celebrations

The people of Madeira celebrate some festivals each year. If you visit Madeira as a tourist on one of these festivals, you are welcome to attend these celebrations and enjoy the hustle and bustle in the streets.

Christmas

Christmas on Madeira is a glittering world in itself. Traditional and modern, cheesy to colorful. Holidaying on Madeira for Christmas is a special experience. Nativity scenes with life-size figures can be admired everywhere.

New Year

On New Year's Eve, many cruise ships anchor in the port of Funchal. In the evening, many small stalls with food and drinks are set up in the streets of the city. Madeira welcomes the New Year with its unique fireworks.

Carnival

Numerous groups of colorful costumes dance to samba rhythms through the streets of Funchal. It reminds a bit of Carnival in Rio - a spectacle for all the senses.

Flower Festival

Flower Power in the streets of Funchal. All flowers on Maderia are presented here in different ways. Every year in May, the Maderens decorate Funchal with an incredible amount of flowers.

Atlantic Festival

Every year in June, concerts are held with well-known predominantly potruguese artists in churches, the Casa das Mudas Cultural Center in Calheta and the Baltazar Dias City Theater. Every Saturday there is a big fireworks at dusk.

Nossa Senhora do Monte

On the 14th and 15th of August, a procession in honor of the Blessed Virgin Nossa Senhora do Monte takes place in Monte, where the little figure is carried through the streets. It is the most important festival of the Madeirans. Believers on their knees climb the imposing staircase of the famous church with its 68 steps.

Wine Festival

At the end of August, the harvest begins in Madeira. The grapes for the Madeira wine are still harvested by hand. In the streets of Funchal there are folklore performances, Madeiran delicacies and of course a lot of wine.

Oldtimer Rally

Every year, the classic car club of Madeira organizes the tour of the Madeira Classic Rally. It does not depend on the speed, but on the original and perfect state of the "oldies." They cover a distance of about 400 km in these four days.

Did you know?

Christus-Statue in
Garajau - „Cristo Rei“

A hike to the Christo Rei statue is worthwhile. The statue of Christo Rei Ponta do Garajau stands on a cliff between Caniço and Funchal. From Caniço de Baixo it is a wonderful trip there. This imposing statue, from which sailors wish for a safe trip home, was built in 1927 by the Frenchman Serraz and has a smaller "sister" in Lisbon. From the plateau, a cable car leads down to the beach for each guest. There is a restaurant where you can sit right by the sea and enjoy fresh fish.

Close to this statue is the steep cliff. From here, the deceased, who did not have the Catholic faith, were thrown into the sea. They were not allowed to bury them in Madeiran soil. This affected above all the Englishmen. This did not change until 1765, when the English cemetery was created.