It is believed that Poncha originated in the 18th or 19th century and that its origin was influenced by a similar Indian drink called panche. This Indian version, whose name translates as five ingredients, probably included arrack (distilled alcoholic drink typically produced in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, made from the
If you've ever had the pleasure of visiting the enchanting Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, you've likely marveled at its stunning landscapes, dramatic cliffs and lush greenery. Yet, if you venture a bit further east to the neighboring island of Porto Santo, you'll be greeted by a rather enchanting surprise - radiant golden sa
The yellow at the center refers to the sunny and pleasant climate. The two blue bands symbolization the sea surrounding the island. This main feature of the flag is a white cross outlined in red believed to be identical to the one on the flag of Prince Henry's ships that discovered the islands. So, the cross of the Order of Ch
Upon initially realizing the existence of multiple accents in Madeira, I was surprised that such a compact island could have such a wide range of dialects. What surprised me even more, was that these differences mainly show up in how words are pronounced, rather than being completely different words. The explanation, as reveale
A long time ago, before people really knew about Madeira's islands, the Greek philosopher Plato talked about a place far away called "Atlantis", which has been mentioned for the 1st time in his work 'Timaeus", written in 360 BC and which serves as a symbol of nations' excessive pride and arrogance. Atlantis is a fictional islan
São Tiago Fort, on Funchal's coastline, is an historic orange fortress symbolizing protection and strength against past naval challenges. Originally built to protect the coast from piracy during the 16th-17th century, Forte de São Tiago was made to last. With strong stone walls and watchful towers, it stood strong against darin
Started in 2011 and was initiated by photographer José Maria Zyberchem in collaboration with the city council and a few other personalities including the international designer Nini Andrade Silva. Many local artists were invited to create something unique by painting the old doors into houses, restaurants and galleries. The d
Football started to gain popularity in Portugal in the late 19th century, brought by Portuguese students who returned from England. The first organized game in the country took place in 1875 in Camacha, Madeira, organized by Madeira-born Harry Hinton, who brought a football from England where he was studying. Popularity quickly