Enchanting Madeira has much to offer
When the call came through from Ru & Co and the Palace Savoy Hotel to escape the cold and dark of Britain in January to go on a FAM trip to discover the delights of Madeira, I jumped at the chance.
Just a four-hour flight away, Madeira is an archipelago comprising four islands located off the north west coast of Africa and is an autonomous region of Portugal. The island is known for its namesake wine and warm, subtropical climate, as well as being the birthplace of famous footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
I took an early morning flight from Gatwick Airport to Madeira. As our plane came into land, I was blown away by incredible views of this volcanic, green and rugged island, with its high cliffs and pebbly beaches, set amongst the glistening blue of the Atlantic Ocean.
Our first port of call was the Mercado dos Lavradores, or farmer’s market in the bustling capital, Funchal. Set in an art-deco building, the market is a real hive of activity, noise and colour and I enjoyed mooching around the stalls looking at everything from fresh fish and colourful fruit and veg, to exotic flowers and local crafts. We stopped for a spot of lunch at one of the city’s boutique restaurants.
After lunch, we took the cable car from Funchal to the suburbs of Monte. A 3,718-metre cable rising up 560 metres, the trip up took around 15 minutes and afforded some stunning views across the city and out to the Atlantic. The Monte Palace and beautiful botanical gardens at the top are certainly worth a visit.
Our next experience certainly goes down as one of the strangest in my life, but definitely one not to be missed! The Monte Toboggan Run is one of Madeira’s most famous attractions and dates back to the 1850’s. At the steps of the Nossa Sentora do Monte Church, I boarded a wicker toboggan for a thrilling 2km trip downhill to Livramento, a suburb of Funchal. The toboggan is steered by two men, or ‘Carreiros’, dressed in white and wearing straw hats, who use their rubber soled shoes to help them steer and brake. Reaching speeds of up to 30mph, it really was very exhilarating.
We were met at the bottom by a couple of Jeeps, which then drove us up to Pico do Ariero, the third highest peak in Madeira, and the highest you can reach by car. At 1,818 metres, on clear days you can see across to the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, some 30 miles north east. Here we enjoyed snacks with Poncho, a traditional alcoholic drink made from 50% alcohol rum with fresh lemon and orange juice.
On the way back to Funchal, we stopped off at one of the island’s wine lodges to sample some of Madeira’s fine wines.
Our next experience certainly goes down as one of the strangest in my life, but definitely one not to be missed! The Monte Toboggan Run is one of Madeira’s most famous attractions and dates back to the 1850’s. At the steps of the Nossa Sentora do Monte Church, I boarded a wicker toboggan for a thrilling 2km trip downhill to Livramento, a suburb of Funchal. The toboggan is steered by two men, or ‘Carreiros’, dressed in white and wearing straw hats, who use their rubber soled shoes to help them steer and brake. Reaching speeds of up to 30mph, it really was very exhilarating.
We were met at the bottom by a couple of Jeeps, which then drove us up to Pico do Ariero, the third highest peak in Madeira, and the highest you can reach by car. At 1,818 metres, on clear days you can see across to the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, some 30 miles north east. Here we enjoyed snacks with Poncho, a traditional alcoholic drink made from 50% alcohol rum with fresh lemon and orange juice.
On the way back to Funchal, we stopped off at one of the island’s wine lodges to sample some of Madeira’s fine wines.
"The hotel boasts 352 bedrooms, all with sea views, with sliding glass doors leading out to terraces”
Our hotel for the duration of our stay was the beautiful Hotel Palace Savoy, which opened in summer 2019. The hotel really draws on its proximity to the sea, with its bold curved, wave-like exterior.
Inside, the Palace Savoy pays homage to its cultural heritage, combining modern, contemporary interiors with references to the past.
The hotel boasts 352 bedrooms, all with sea views, with sliding glass doors leading out to terraces. On the end of each floor is a suite, with its own private plunge pool or hot tub. The rooms themselves are decorated in muted shades of champagne and off-white, with luxury en suite bathrooms with large showers.
On the rooftop, two infinity pools are seemingly suspended between the sea and sky. Adjoining the pool on one side is Galáxia Restaurant, which promises a formal dining experience, with flavours from around the globe. On the other side of the rooftop is Jacarandá, a lounge and club open exclusively to guests staying in the hotel’s suites. Look down, and there’s another large swimming pool, with separate kid’s pool.
The Palace Savoy is home to the largest spa in Portugal, a 32,000 sq. ft spa, inspired by Madeira’s Laurissilva Forest, the biggest surviving laurel forest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are 11 treatment rooms, along with sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, ice fountain, sensorial showers, heated indoor pool, Halotherapy room and fitness centre.
There are plenty of event spaces too, with 11 meeting rooms of varying sizes, plus a ballroom capable of hosting 1,400 people. And with a choice of restaurants and bars across the hotel, there really is something for everyone.
Inside, the Palace Savoy pays homage to its cultural heritage, combining modern, contemporary interiors with references to the past.
The hotel boasts 352 bedrooms, all with sea views, with sliding glass doors leading out to terraces. On the end of each floor is a suite, with its own private plunge pool or hot tub. The rooms themselves are decorated in muted shades of champagne and off-white, with luxury en suite bathrooms with large showers.
On the rooftop, two infinity pools are seemingly suspended between the sea and sky. Adjoining the pool on one side is Galáxia Restaurant, which promises a formal dining experience, with flavours from around the globe. On the other side of the rooftop is Jacarandá, a lounge and club open exclusively to guests staying in the hotel’s suites. Look down, and there’s another large swimming pool, with separate kid’s pool.
The Palace Savoy is home to the largest spa in Portugal, a 32,000 sq. ft spa, inspired by Madeira’s Laurissilva Forest, the biggest surviving laurel forest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are 11 treatment rooms, along with sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, ice fountain, sensorial showers, heated indoor pool, Halotherapy room and fitness centre.
There are plenty of event spaces too, with 11 meeting rooms of varying sizes, plus a ballroom capable of hosting 1,400 people. And with a choice of restaurants and bars across the hotel, there really is something for everyone.
After a tour of the hotel and its impressive facilities, we were taken by motorbike side cars, Tuk Tuks and bubble cars to a local restaurant for a casual dinner.
Day two started with a bus trip via a viewpoint for morning coffee and tea, to the Casa das Mudas, Madeira’s Contemporary Arts Centre in Calheta, 20 minutes’ drive from Funchal. This cliff-top complex was built to promote awareness and life-long learning of art and has numerous vantage points to take in views over the mountainside and ocean.
Inside, there’s 12,000 sq. metres of space, including a gallery exhibition space, auditorium, library, gift shop, café, restaurant and art workshops. The auditorium can seat 220 and hosts multiple concerts, movies, plays, conferences and meetings. It really is a fantastic space in which to create unique and unforgettable events.
For lunch, we headed to the nearby art deco Savoy Saccharum hotel. Built on the site of an old sugar cane mill, you can see references to its historic roots, with large photographs of sugar cane covering the walls and a multimedia gallery showing daily films about the industry. There are three outdoor swimming pools, including an infinity pool which juts daringly out into the sea, plus a gym, squash court, games room and award-winning spa.
Of its 243 bedrooms, all have views over the mountains, whilst some also have sea views. There are three restaurants and five bars, including the Alambique, an à la carte restaurant which serves gourmet regional fare. The Garana Bar on the second floor is a great spot to enjoy a cocktail whilst taking in the stunning sea views.
There are also five meeting and events rooms, the largest of which is the Canavial Space, which can host 200 people, as well as smaller, more intimate spaces.
After a jam-packed itinerary, we had some much-needed downtime back at The Palace Savoy, so I made the most of the opportunity to relax at the iconic spa and enjoy a 30-minute massage. Our farewell dinner that night was at the gorgeous Galáxia Restaurant.
A whirlwind trip, I left Madeira refreshed and invigorated and thoroughly impressed with what this enchanting island has to offer.
If you’d like to know more about hosting an event in Madeira, please get in touch with the Zanna team.
Day two started with a bus trip via a viewpoint for morning coffee and tea, to the Casa das Mudas, Madeira’s Contemporary Arts Centre in Calheta, 20 minutes’ drive from Funchal. This cliff-top complex was built to promote awareness and life-long learning of art and has numerous vantage points to take in views over the mountainside and ocean.
Inside, there’s 12,000 sq. metres of space, including a gallery exhibition space, auditorium, library, gift shop, café, restaurant and art workshops. The auditorium can seat 220 and hosts multiple concerts, movies, plays, conferences and meetings. It really is a fantastic space in which to create unique and unforgettable events.
For lunch, we headed to the nearby art deco Savoy Saccharum hotel. Built on the site of an old sugar cane mill, you can see references to its historic roots, with large photographs of sugar cane covering the walls and a multimedia gallery showing daily films about the industry. There are three outdoor swimming pools, including an infinity pool which juts daringly out into the sea, plus a gym, squash court, games room and award-winning spa.
Of its 243 bedrooms, all have views over the mountains, whilst some also have sea views. There are three restaurants and five bars, including the Alambique, an à la carte restaurant which serves gourmet regional fare. The Garana Bar on the second floor is a great spot to enjoy a cocktail whilst taking in the stunning sea views.
There are also five meeting and events rooms, the largest of which is the Canavial Space, which can host 200 people, as well as smaller, more intimate spaces.
After a jam-packed itinerary, we had some much-needed downtime back at The Palace Savoy, so I made the most of the opportunity to relax at the iconic spa and enjoy a 30-minute massage. Our farewell dinner that night was at the gorgeous Galáxia Restaurant.
A whirlwind trip, I left Madeira refreshed and invigorated and thoroughly impressed with what this enchanting island has to offer.
If you’d like to know more about hosting an event in Madeira, please get in touch with the Zanna team.