Madeira Wine Festival

Every year, in the city of Funchal, on the island of Madeira, and during th first week of September wine lovers can congregate for the annual Madeira Wine Festival. Visitors can help gather the grapes and stomp them underfoot, along with the traditional wine-tasting and culinary events. For more information on this year program click here.

Portimao cruise port offers regular ferry to Funchal in Madeira

Portimão will see 40 cruise ships docking at its port by the end of 2008. The addition of its new ferry crossing to Madeira is sure to continue to establish the destination as one of Europe’s most up-and-coming ports-of-call. As of June 15th, Naviera Armas is offering regular ferry crossings between Portimão and Funchal, Madeira. Cape Verde is also a port-of-call and the Canaries are being considered. It will be the first regular sea-crossing between the country on the continent and the island region in 30 years. A round-trip will start from approximately $900. Bookings can now be made on www.navieraarmas.com. Currently, around six thousand tourists visit Portimão annually on excursions organized while their cruise ships are docked at the city.