Spectacular steep cliffs and lava pools instead of sandy beaches, an underwater nature reserve full of exotic fish and in the capital Funchal an outdoor gallery of artistically painted front doors. She follows in the footsteps of world footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who grew up in Funchal, and explores the secret of the famous Madeira wine. The hike through the ancient laurel forest, along the water channels, the famous levadas, is spectacular.
Swim, dive and snorkel
Madeira has many rugged cliffs, some small stone beaches and only a few sandy beaches. In Porto Moniz in the northwest of the island, Anne Willmes bathes in a so-called lava pool – protected from the high Atlantic waves. You will find a nine kilometer long dream beach on the neighboring island of Porto Santo. In Caniço on the south coast of Madeira you can swim and, above all, dive or snorkel in an underwater nature reserve.
In the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo
Anne Willmes encounters admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo all over Madeira. The airport bears the name of the world-famous soccer player, in the port of Funchal there is a huge bronze statue in front of the Ronaldo Museum, where his trophies and likenesses are on display: Ronaldo virtual, life-size, in gold and made entirely of chocolate. His family’s house in the Santo Antonio district is no longer there, but a neighbor remembers the tot, as does the president of amateur club Andorinha, where Ronaldo played his first games at the age of eight.
forest and water
The ancient laurel forest stretches up to an altitude of 1,300 meters. It covers a fifth of the island of Madeira and is essential for its water balance. Because the moisture from the mists there condenses as water on the trees. Anne Willmes takes a hike into the realm of waterfalls and levadas, the stone canals that have been carved into the rocks of Madeira since the 14th century.
Moderation: Anne Willmes
Editor: Christiane Möllers
Author: Tobias Spelz
Internettext: Petra Berthold
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