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The history of Madeira begins with the discovery of the islands by Portugal in 1419. There is no record of anyone living on the islands at that time. Portugal began populating the island in 1420.
Madeira Islands, archipelago of volcanic origin in the North Atlantic Ocean, belonging to Portugal. It comprises two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and two uninhabited groups, the Desertas and the Selvagens. The islands are the summits of mountains that have their bases on an abyssal ocean floor.
Discovered early in the 15th century by the Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, Madeira was an important waypoint on the Cape Route, and is today an autonomous region of Portugal. Madeira is a popular destination for tourists of all ages.
It is by far the most populous and densely populated Portuguese island. The region is noted for its Madeira wine, flora, and fauna, with its pre-historic laurel forest, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The destination has been certified by EarthCheck.
Madeira Islands. History and nature of Madeira Island, Portugal. Overview of Madeira Island, Portugal. See all videos for this article. The Madeira archipelago includes eight volcanic islands in the Atlantic, 600 miles (1,000 km) southwest of the mainland. Only two of these, Madeira and Porto Santo, are inhabited.
Currently in. History. To know the history of Madeira you have to go back to the year 1418, when the navigators led by João Gonçalves Zarco sighted, after many days adrift on the high seas, a small island that saved them from a fateful destiny. A safe harbour which they named 'Porto Santo'.
A tropical getaway. With an area of 741 km², the Island of Madeira is an oasis in the Atlantic where, among the forests, towns, beaches and mountains, a great natural and cultural wealth is preserved.
