Nature & Adventure in Madeira

(video direct link)

Nature & Adventure activities (Active Tourism) are extra reasons to visit Madeira Islands. On land, on air or on sea, the choices are plenty and everybody can experience activities, offering a multiplicity range, designed for all age groups.

Particularly in CALHETA municipality territory (Southwest), where Jardim do Mar is located, you can do all: hiking, mountain biking, surf, bodyboard, wind surfing, diving, climbing, canyoning, paragliding, sailing, dolphin & whale watching or (big game) fishing.

CALHETA, besides its breathtaking landscapes and the friendly local people, has the best weather conditions all year round.

It is not the first time we hear someone saying that the impressive landscape is similar to Jurassic Park island ("pretty similar to the Jurassic Park island", it is said on the this video). We have also heard comparisons to New Zealand type landscapes.

All that in Europe and with good climate.

Come and feel the landscape around you. Dive in it.Take a deep breath. Surrender to the charms of an island that exhales energy and inspires emotion and adventure.

Besides all this, you may also feel Madeira's Nature profound and empowering quietness, working as a self (relaxing and healing) retreat from modern life rush, stress and anxieties.

--
Related info:
NATURE/ECO Tourism & Madeira & Sofia's Place

Gisela João, a new «fadista»

Gisela João is already one of the best and most applauded Fado singers in Portugal. She has just released her selftitled debut album. Listen to the true emotion in the song "Meu amigo está longe" (My friend/ lover is far away") or in "Vieste do Fim do Mundo" (You came from the end of the world).

Related info:
FADO, THE URBAN SONG OF LISBON

FADO PART OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

SOFIA'S PLACE MUSIC EXPERIENCE - A SOULFUL SELECTION

FADO FILM SELECTION IN SOFIA'S PLACE

SOFIA'S PLACE AUDITORIUM

More information on Fado:
www.museudofado.pt
www.portaldofado.net
www.unesco.org (here)

David Byrne (musician and producer) on Amália's music: "she expresses the sadness of the Universe and existence"

Farmer's Market day

On December 23rd, Madeirans take this opportunity to make their last minute Christmas shopping in a commotion, that intensifies the essence of the "Festa", a designation commonly attributed by locals to refer to the beginning of the Christmas season.

The locals go to the Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmers' Market) to buy the last items or delicacies in order to ultimate their Christmas decorations and prepare the typical delicacies of the season. The market hall thereby becomes small venue taking into consideration such big demand.

The surrounding streets are closed to traffic and are filled with various food stalls that are open all night, selling innumerable regional products like flowers, shrubs, fruits, vegetables, sweets, pork in wine and garlic rolls and typical drinks like "poncha".

More information on Christmas and New Year festivities: HERE

Christmas and New Year 2013-2014

Please, check the photography album by Madeira Tourism

As always, the Festive Season is lived intensely in Madeira islands. Lots of joy, religious celebrations, social gatherings and good food (and drinks, too).

On Christmas Eve it is customary serving chicken soup and various meat dishes at family gatherings. In addition, home-made tangerine, orange or aniseed liquors or a good glass of Madeira wine are also drunk. On Christmas Day generally people eat pork in wine and garlic or stuffed turkey. Furthermore the most common sweets for this season are "Bolo de Família" (Family Cake), "Bolo de Mel" (Honey Cake), and popular sweets like "rosquilhas de manteiga" (butter biscuits) "broas de mel" e "broas de manteiga" (honey and butter biscuits) and "palitos de cerveja" (beer finger biscuits)

Please, also check the Christmas and New Year festivities programme HERE (or in pdf files English, French and German).

(picture by Francisco Correia)

Guest message 41

October 2013

Key words & ideas:

"We had a great stay here"; "We will come back"; "Sofia's Place had everything we needed and our compliments"; "We will recommend the house to everybody."

Please, click on the image for better reading

Guest message 40

September 2013

Key words & ideas:

"It was a great pleasure to be here. The house emanates well-being and happiness. I believe that the people that stay in the house feel at home. See you next year."

Please, click on the images for better reading

Free Internet access

From September 2013 onwards at Sofia's Place

Internet access: MOBILE BROADBAND WIFI HOTSPOT - up to 5 devices connected simultaneously 

More specifications on the R206 device

Note: there is also free internet access in the village library five minutes walk away from house.

Madeira Islands: Europe's Leading Island Destination 2013

Ponta Delgada (North coast of Madeira) in May 2012 [ © Nelio ]

Madeira Islands elected the Europe's Leading Island Destination by World Travel Awards. Its 20th edition took place in Turkey, on the 31st of August, 2013.

Give yourself a chance to experience Madeira Islands and come to visit us in Sofia's Place in Jardim do Mar, one of the most exclusive, dreamy and romantic places around.

Madeira offers unspoilt and breathtaking scenery with impressive high cliffs emerging directly from the ocean. «It’s the most dramatic landscape I have ever seen», says dear friend and surfer William Henry about Madeira, refering to the towering cliffs, rocky shores, waterfalls and seas of azure.

«As a child I often dreamed of a landscape like Madeira, because one much like it is often described in fairy tales and children’s stories», adds the above quoted friend. «Every year I find something new, and yet every year I am awe-struck by the same cliffs, gardens, waterfalls and waves that I witnessed on my first voyage.» (Read more)

More information on Madeira Islands:
www.visitmadeira.pt