Who controls Madeira Islands?

The island of Madeira is about three times the size of the U.S. island of Nantucket, twice the area of the British Isle of Wight and slightly larger than Singapore island. Together with the islands of Porto Santo and Desertas and the Selvagens—Madeira forms an autonomous region of the country of Portugal.



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Together with the islands of Porto Santo and Desertas and the Selvagens—Madeira forms an autonomous region of the country of Portugal.

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Madeira, originally uninhabited, was claimed by Portuguese sailors in the service of Prince Henry the Navigator in 1419 and settled after 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first territorial discovery of the exploratory period of the Age of Discovery.

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Madeira (/m?'d??r?/, /m?'d??r?/, Portuguese: [m?'ð?j??]), officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira (Portuguese: Região Autónoma da Madeira), is one of two autonomous regions of Portugal, the other being the Azores.

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The favorable climate of the island also contributed to the land thrive, and wheat production has become one of the greatest wealth of the island. This cereal was exported on a large scale for the Portuguese possessions on the African coast, giving thus the first cycle of Madeira economic history.

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The official language spoken in the Madeira archipelago is Portuguese, but a majority of the local population is proficient in English, especially in the more tourist-heavy spots.

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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.

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Madeira is boasting some of the most accessible biodiversity. It is known for its lush forests, gardens, and parks, which give the island a tropical feel. As a result of the mild temperatures here all year long, a range of exotic plants and herbs can be found in the gardens.

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Is it expensive to live in Madeira? Madeira in general isn't an expensive place to live. Housing, transport, and food are quite affordable for expats staying in Madeira longer term. On the other hand, if you're staying in Madeira short term (less than 6 months) then housing and renting cars can be quite expensive.

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How about Madeira? Geographically (and weatherwise) it's closer to Africa than Europe… just 500km west of Casablanca in fact, though it's technically Portugal and about a three-hour flight from London. Funchal is the island's only real city.

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Madeira is geologically located on the African Tectonic Plate, although it is culturally, politically and ethnically associated with Europe, with its population predominantly descended from original Portuguese settlers. Its population was 251,060 in 2021.

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Although Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago, it is actually closer to Africa than Europe. Sitting 434 miles west of Morocco and 528 miles southwest of Portugal and mainland Europe.

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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.

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The fastest ferry crossing to Madeira Islands is via the Porto Santo to Funchal ferry, in approximately 2h 30m.

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ELECTRICITY AND WATER The electric current in the archipelago is 220 volts. There is plenty of water in Madeira and it is all drinkable and of excellent quality.

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Cristiano Ronaldo is the most famous person to come out of Portugal, as well as the most followed person on Instragam with 395 million followers. Born in Madeira, Ronaldo for many is the best football player of all time, having won a record of five Ballon d'Or awards.

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Madeira's national currency is Euro (EUR), which comes in denominations of 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, 200€ and 500€ notes. Coins come in 1, 2,5, 10, 20 and 50 cent and one and two euros denominations. Banks are open from 8:30 am to 15:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

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The cost of living in Madeira is generally lower than in mainland Portugal. Housing costs, utilities, and healthcare expenses are more affordable, allowing retirees to stretch their retirement savings further.

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If your definition of quality of life means safety, tranquillity, natural beauty and little traffic, then Madeira could be a good option. Far from the bustle of Lisbon and Porto, the island is calm and peaceful.

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You can easily pay €40 a head in Madeira. There are several fine dining restaurants where you can pay much more than that but you can have an evening meal in many (or perhaps even most) restaurants (with wine) typically for no more than €20 to €30 a head.

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Portuguese is the official language in Madeira. It is worth picking up a few key phrases if you want to be polite, such as 'please', 'thank you,' etcetera, although English is widely spoken in tourist areas. People who have visited the Portuguese mainland may notice a thicker accent in Madeira.

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Portuguese is the official language in Madeira. It is worth picking up a few key phrases if you want to be polite, such as 'please', 'thank you,' etcetera, although English is widely spoken in tourist areas. People who have visited the Portuguese mainland may notice a thicker accent in Madeira.

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Madeira is a super easy island to get around – with or without a car! There are buses that can take you almost everywhere and anywhere on the island. There are also lots of awesome tours to all the Levada hikes that pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation (especially if you're staying in Funchal).

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