MADEIRA + LISBONA

About the destination: When you get to Funchal you are amazed by its immensity. Houses and more houses rise up from the sea covering the entire natural amphitheatre which is Funchal. It is the major commercial, tourist and cultural centre of the island of Madeira. La Zona Velha, the city’s old town, still maintains a vibrant local life of its own and it is the trendiest place on the island. To stroll through the narrow cobbled streets with some intriguing little museums, shops and cafes and a salty old port area is a real delight. At night the neighbourhood comes alive. The restaurants are packed to the gills and St. Mary Street becomes the meeting point for young people ready to have a good time. To enjoy the island’s wonderful flora, you don’t need to leave Funchal. In the outskirts of the city we find some glorious gardens such as the Jardim Botânico, Quinta da Boa Vista, Palheiro Gardens and Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, reached by cable car from Funchal centre. Some other interesting things to do and visit are: The Mercado dos Lavradores, a very colourful market of fresh products and handicrafts; the 15th-century cathedral; Quinta das Cruzes and the Adegas São Francisco wine cellars. There are lots of reasons to like the bustling port city, that despite being tiny, it has a lot to offer.

About the destination: Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills due to its location, the city spreads across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tajo. Romantic and cosmopolitan, the city presents its typical red roofs to the visitors that want to get to know its every inch. Lisbon surprises with its natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere. The Portuguese capital offers lots of museums, libraries, a huge port, churches and palaces and stunning views of the Rio Tajo Lisbon was considered a poor and chaotic city. Currently it has experienced a resurgence in the style of the XIV and XV centuries, when it was part of that vast empire stretching from Brazil to India. The reason for this was the World Expo held in 1998, a new bridge over the Tagus was built and the network of underground of the city was remodeled. The resurgence of the city then continued to host several matches during Euro in 2004, also held there the Delivery Music Awards (MTV) in 2005. Many of its most beautiful buildings date from the XIV and XV centuries, especially the ones located in the Belem district. There are also many buildings from the XVIII century, which are located mostly in the Baixa area of central Lisbon and were reconstructed almost completely after a devastating earthquake that hit the town in 1755. The historic center of the city, standing on Las Siete Colinas, presents steep streets and picturesque alleys. On the west side of the city, there is Monsanto Forest Park, Lisbon’s lung, with an area of 10 km and one of the largest in Europe. The capital’s majestic port has 3 docks commonly used for several cruises and it is, currently, the busiest port in the European Atlantic coast. Lisbon is a city with centuries of history and with an ambitious attitude, marrying the historic with the modern, the traditional with the cutting edge. Strolling through the old quarters one can hear the traditional Fado sung and played in small restaurants in town. In the hilltop district of Bairro Alto, dozens of restaurants and bars line the narrow streets, with jazz, reggae, electronica filling the air and revelers partying until dawn. Nightclubs scattered all over town make fine use of old spaces, whether on riverside docks or tucked away in 18th-century mansions. Lisbon presents itself to the world as a cosmopolitan and lively city, with alternative for every taste, especially in the summer months when its many bars, terraces and restaurants are crammed with people.