Our Madeira Packages Include:
- Roundtrip transfers
- 3 Nights accommodation
- Breakfast Daily (except apartments)
- All Hotel taxes and service charges
Extra nights can be added to these packages, this includes all packages on this website.
Price from $279.00 per person in double occupancy
|
PESTANA CARLTON |
HOTEL GIRASSOL |
PESTANA MIRAMAR |
 |
 |
 |
We have over 48 hotels in Funchal to choose from
Featured Hotels
Hotel Pestana Carlton Madeira 5* Located just a short walk from the center of Funchal, and has 2 swimming pools, mini golf, scuba diving center, tennis court, fitness club, bars and restaurants. Rooms have: telephone, TV, air-conditioning, mini bar and safe. Parking.
Hotel Girassol 4*
Funchal. Located in the main tourist area of Funchal, 200 meters from the Lido complex and a 1 ¼ from the city center. Restaurant, snack bar with terrace near the pool, 2 swimming pools (1 heated – also 2 for the kids), solarium, health club, sauna & massage. Air conditioned. Parking. Rooms have: telephone, TV, mini bar and safe. Parking.
Hotel Pestana Miramar 4* Close to the city center, this small hotel has indoor & outdoor swimming pools, cocktail bar and health club with gym, sauna, Jacuzzi and massage. Rooms have: TV, telephone, air conditioning, kitchenette and safe box to hire. Garage
We offer airfares from: ORD (Chicago) MIA (Miami) LAX (Los Angeles)
BOS (Boston) and IAD (Washington)
With over 23 other add-on gateways
Available upon request
Sightseeing of Funchal
Half Day Eira do Serrado/Monte
Discover the mountains and try the famous sledge ride
Pico dos Barcelos – viewpoint from where you can admire
a beautiful view over Funchal.
Eira do Serrado – Viewpoint (1094 Mts.) overlooking the valley
of Curral das Freiras – a little village built in the crater of an extinct
volcano. Breathtaking views over the village and mountains.
Monte – Village in the suburbs of Funchal known world – wide for
its mild climate and lush vegetation. Visit the parish church.
The famous sledge ride – toboggan – can be made until Livramento.
(This is optional and not included in price).
Departs Afternoons Monday & Thursday
Full Day Câmara de Lobos/Porto Moniz with lunch
This excursion was conceived so that some of the most beautiful
places of the island could be visited. A tour not to be missed.
Câmara de Lobos – Typical fishing town.
Cabo Girão – Second highest sea cliff in the world (580 mts)
Paúl da Serra – Only plateau of the Island at 1400 mts high.
Porto Moniz – On the northwest coast a village well known for its
volcanic swimming pools. After lunch, on the way to São Vicente
discover one of the most beautiful points of the north coast – a rock
built on the rocks by the sea where we can admire the
astonishing waterfalls.
Encumeada – Summit where both sides of the island (north and south)
can be seen at the same time (weather permitting)
On the way back to Funchal discover the beautiful
valley of Serra D’Água.
Departs Wesdnesday & Saturday
Full Day Pico do Areeiro/ Santana including lunch
Unforgettable day discovering mountains, forest and traditional
thatched houses.
Camacha – Village famous for being wickerwork centre.
Visit the factory where you can see artisans working and
purchase articles from a wide collection available.
Pico de Areeiro – Second highest summit on the island (1810 mts)
commanding breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains,
peaks and valleys.
Ribeiro Frio – Natural park where you can have a look around
the trout hatchery.
Santana – After visiting the beautiful area of Faial, climb up to Santana,
famous for its cottages, which today are known worldwide.
Departs Tuesday & Friday
Typical Dinner
Dinner at a typical Maderian restaurant where the mains dish is the
Espetada (beef on a skewer spiced and grilled over an open fire) and
other delicacies of Madeira cooked. Unlimited wine.J A folklore group
will be dancing during dinner and you will be invited to join them in
these traditional and typical regional dances.
Departs Thursday & Sunday
Car rental available upon request
|
History of Madeira
The grand metropolis of Madrid can trace its origins to the times of Arab Emir Mohamed I (852-886), who ordered the construction of a fortress on the left bank of the Manzanares river. It later became the subject of a dispute between the Christians and Arabs until it was conquered by Alfonso VI in the 11th century. At the end of the 17th century, a defensive wall was built for the protection of the new outlying areas, tracing the roads of
Segovia, Toledo and Valencia. During the 18th century, under the reign of Carlos III, the great arteries of the city were
designed, such as the Paseo de la Castellana, de Acacias. At the beginning of the 19th century, Joseph Bonaparte undertook
the reform of the Puerta del Sol and vicinity. The commercial street known as the Gran Via was built as an east-west avenue at the start
of the century. In the 1950’s the north-south boulevard called Paseo de la Castellana was extended and modern buildings were erected
housing the major financial institutions. What remains today of the distant past are mainly the Baroque and neoclassical structures of
the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) and the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) to name a
few.
Museums
Madrid has many museums, the most famous perhaps is the Museo del Prado (Prado Museum) with works by Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Rubens, Botticelli etc. Then there is the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum) located close to the Prado, which houses a range of works from Flemish art to contemporary art. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Reina Sofia Culture Center) has a permanent collection of Spanish contemporary art and a wide variety of temporary exhibitions.
Other museums: Museo Cerralbo (Cerralbo Museum), Museo Lazaro Galdiano (Lazaro Galdiano Museum), Museo Sorolla (Sorolla Museum), Museo Arqueologico Nacional
(National Archeological Museum), Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando Museum), Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Monastery of the Royal Barefoot Franciscans), Monastery de la Encarnacion (Monastery of the Incarnation), Cason del Buen Retiro (Buen Retiro Museum), Palacio Real (Royal Palace), Museo de America (Museum of the Americas), Fundacion de la Casa de Alba (House of Alba Foundation), Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum), Museo del Ejercito (Military Museum), Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas (National Museum of Decorative Arts), Museo Romantico (Museum of the Romantic Period), Panteon de Goya (Goya’s Pantheon) and Museo Municipal (Municipal Museum.
Local transport
Metro (the fastest way of getting out and about). Buses: The buses cover the entire city and outer areas of the city. Trains: there are several train stations, one of interest is Atocha, where one takes the bullet train to Seville. The station, designed by Eiffel has a wonderful garden inside.
Jewish Heritage/History
For those interested in Jewish history, it is well known that the most important Jewish Community for various centuries was founded and lived in Sefarad (the Jewish name for Spain). Toledo in fact had the reputation of the “Jerusalem de Sefarad”. Barcelona, Gerona, Zaragoza, Tudela, Seville, Cordoba, Lucena and a few other cities united to Jewish history.
In these cities lived some of the most important poets, writers etc. like Jua Halevi, Samuel Ibn Nagrel, Solomon Ibn Gabirol, Moises Ibn Ezra and many others. Plus, very significant philosophers like, Maimonides, Najmanides and Crescas.
The headquarters of the Jewish community in Madrid, is in the handsome building at number 3 Calle Balmes. It houses Beth Yaacov Synagogue with it’s glowing stained glass windows, a large assembly hall, a library, facilities for kosher catering, a youth lounge and small synagogue, as well as offices for the Rabbi and staff. Religious services are held daily and on Sabbaths and holidays, visitors are welcome. Madrid is also the home of the Arias Montano Institute, a government sponsored center for research in Hebrew, Sephardic and Near East studies.
Further out is Toledo. In the 12 Century, there were over 12,000 Jews and numerous synagogues in Toledo. “Santa Maria La Blanca”, originally the “Great
Synagogue”, was built in the 13th century. Also there is another synagogue in Samuel Levy street called “El Transito of Toledo” with
a museum that displays 5 thousand years of Hispanic/Jewish culture. It has taken 8 years of labor & remodeling but well worth the wait.
The museum is located in the synagogue and has been used as a point of reference for many years summarizing the culture, religion,
customs of the Hispanic Jewish culture in Spain. The structure is Mudejar and has been dated back to 1357. Close by is Samuel Levy
Abulafia’s villa, know known as the house of El Greco. A most beautiful place in the old Jewish Quarter. This lovely cobble stoned
town was once Capital of Spain>
back to top...
|
|
