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Located in the northern part of the
Atlantic Ocean, the Island of Medeira was settled by
Portugal in 1418. Once called the Purple Islands by the
Romans, it is now often referred to as the Island of
Eternal Spring. With its temperate climate and
abounding floriculture, it certainly does retain its
spring like feeling all year round. Everywhere you go on
the Island of Madeira, you are surrounded by its lush
and tropical vegetation. The island itself is
geographically rugged and the terrain includes some of
the steepest sea cliffs in the world.
The Island of Madeira is most famous
for its namesake. Madeira Wine can be likened to no other
wine in the world. Its legendary flavor could very well
have more to do with the solitude of the island than its
climate or grapes. When Madeira was first introduced to
the world in the 17th century, shopping methods
left much to be desired. With no way to control the
temperature the wine was stored in, it was left to bake as
the ships carrying it traversed through the tropics on its
way to the New World. The heating that it received turned
the otherwise light and acidic beverage into a full bodied
wine with a hint of burnt flavor in its depths. As its
popularity grew, orders were given that the wine was to be
aged through several round trip voyages to all parts of
the world. This unique way of aging wine caused it to
often be christened The Wine of the Round Voyage.
While grapes are still grown in
Medeira, the island has taken advantage of its tropical
climate and made bananas its number one export. While
visiting the island there is never a month that bananas
arent in season, so you can always see their bright
yellow goodness hanging in bunches on the trees. Unique
to the island is their one of a kind Madeira Banana. This
fruit is half the size of a regular banana but contains
twice the flavor and it is very hard to find outside the
market place on the island.
The market place has much more to offer
than delicious bananas. A wide variety of tropical fruit
and fresh grown vegetables are only the first delicacies
to assail your senses every Friday on Market Day. The
fish market alone is worth a visit to the island. The
variety if fish and size of the tuna will make all other
seafood you have ever tasted pale in comparison. Other
amazing finds at the shops along the market place include
delicately designed wicker items and embroidery that is so
exquisite it deserves to be displayed as a prized
showpiece in your home.
The Island of Madeira is a like a
tropical dream that you hesitate to wake from. Once you
have partaken of charm, you may never want to leave.
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