Are the Madeira Islands part of Europe or Africa? Although politically, they are part of Portugal, the Madeira Islands are closer to Africa than Europe, so geographically they are part of the African continent. Selvagens is the closest island to Africa, only 367 kilometres (228 miles) from Morocco.
Although located in the African Plate, some 650 km (360 mi) off the North African coast, Madeira belongs and has always belonged ethnically, culturally, economically and politically to Europe, some 955 km (583 miles) from the European mainland.
Article. Madeira is a group of volcanic islands in the North Atlantic which were colonised by the Portuguese from 1420. The settlement and distribution of land rights on the uninhabited islands was a model the Portuguese Crown would copy in other colonial island groups and in Brazil.
The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.
The archipelago was uninhabited until 1419, when the Portuguese navigator João Gonçalves Zarco landed in Madeira. However, Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians and Arabs surely would pass by Madeira, during his expeditions across the North Atlantic. The arrival, in 1419, the first Portuguese ships have been fortuitous.
Many emigrated illegally to escape military service and avoid the wars in the colonies (Angola and Mozambique), and also because they could not afford the high cost of the emigration process by legal means.
Madeira Island is a destination with mild weather all year around, with many different microclimates. It has stunning landscapes with dense verdant forests, volcanic mountains, and flower gardens with exuberant colours.