Madeira promoted in South Africa

The Regional Secretary of Culture, Tourism & Transport reckons that the promotional tour with agents is "very interesting".

Conceição Estudante, who arrived last Friday in S.A., states that a promotion is made, not only for professionals within the industry, who work with the community of Madeira, but also with other travel agents who have a more diverse clientele.

The minister concludes that through the great community of Madeira, the market has the possibility of information and promotion which "has to be highly valued and enhanced."

She also emphasized that it is always a potential market and therefore, "we have to look at it from the perspective of continuity and maintenance of interest."

The main reason that led the regional secretary to South Africa, were the celebrations regarding “Madeira Day”, commemorated on the 1st of July throughout the communities around the world, and in this case, also in South Africa.

For more information and news, please visit: www.acropolissgps.com/news/

Traditional Festival all over the Island

FEST DOS SANTOS POPULARES (Popular Saints Festival) started on June 12 and finishes tomorrow, June 29.

One of the biggest traditional festivals celebrated all over the Island, which is also the high social point of many regions still today.

The festivities are dedicated to three popular saints; Santo Antonio (St. Antony) 13^th of June, São João (St. John) 24^th, and São Pedro (St Peter) on the 29^th.

Three great excuses to go out and celebrate the Saints in June.

The celebrations begin with St. Antony in the beautiful Church of Santo António, with parades, traditional food and great entertainment. St. Anthony is the saint of Love and a ‘match maker’. During this festivity people make bonfires on the streets and jump over them as tradition dictates. It is said, the highest leapers will be lucky in love. Many marriages also take place during this festival.

Saint John is the most popular saint celebrated all over the island. In Funchal, with its St. John's Altars, the traditional celebration is between the 19th – 24th, where local shops prepare and show off their altar creativity, followed by a celebration of traditional "marchas populares" (popular marches), plus entertainment and great food.

Porto Santo, from the 19^th to the 29^th, has lots of interesting events including traditional parades, jumping over bonfires on the beach and balloon release.

Saint Peter, being the protector of Fishermen, has its biggest celebration in the fishing ports of Câmara de Lobos and in Ribeira Brava.

Câmara de Lobos June 28^th, through July 2nd, combined with the big celebrations of Saint Peter also has the black scabbard fish Festival (Festa da Espada Preta) along great entertainment, live music, traditional dancing, fireworks display and food stalls set around the port, where you can enjoy a taste of delicious Madeira's specialties.

The black scabbard fish festival serves to promote one of the most typical gastronomic Madeiran specialties, that pay tribute to the local fishermen, who for generations were the only ones in the island who devoted themselves for the catch of this type of fish.

Ribeira Brava, June 28 and 29, displays great traditional celebrations that last through the night. Surrounded streets are decorated with colorful flowers, live entertainment, traditional dancing, music and food stalls are set on the beach. Popular night journeys are available between Funchal and Ribeira Brava. There will be a picturesque procession of boats held on the sea and a great firework display at midnight.

For more information, please visit: www.acropolisSGPS.com

Sport & Nature in Madeira

The Madeira Island Ultra Trail 2012.

The 4th edition of the Madeira Island Ultra Trail (MIUT), started on June 9^th, in Machico, the northeastern part of the Madeiran island.

More than three hundred participants from sixteen nationalities were enrolled in the competition organized by the Funchal Mountain Club.

For the sport director, Nuno Gonçalves, the edition which started on the 9^th of June was "particularly intense, not only due to the logistics that involved marking paths and optimal management of volunteers, but also in regards of the competitive aspect of the event, with several athletes disputing the title.“

The final results:

  1 - ARMANDO TEIXEIRA (PORTUGAL)

  2 - JOSE LUIS GALLEGO (SPAIN)

  3 - MANUEL LAGO (BRAZIL)

  4 - SIDONIO FREITAS (PORTUGAL)

  5 - JOSE PEREIRA (PORTUGAL)

  6 - JOSE FERNANDEZ (SPAIN)

  7 - JOAO COLACO (PORTUGAL)

  8 - JOAO HORA FAUSTINO (PORTUGAL)

  9 - JOEL PODGORSKI (USA)

10 – PEDRO SANTOS (PORTUGAL)

For more information about Madeira, please visit: www.acropolisgps.com

New record for Madeira

According to a released statement on the 14th of June, more than 300,000 passengers visited the Port of Funchal in the first 5 months of this year, representing an increase of 23,400 tourists on ships, stopping 162 times in the capital of Madeira.

The administration of Harbours states, that the data indicates the port of Funchal to "hit a new record" in numbers of scales, with over 11 ships and passengers.

In terms of Nationality, the first on the list are UK tourists, who were more than 114,000, followed by German (91 165), American (14,082), Italian (12,740), French (9429), Brazilian (6659), Swiss (4541), Dutch (4458) Spanish (4071) and Canadian tourists (4063).

On average, three cruises dock the island on a daily basis, though the peak season presented a higher number of 8 to 10 times.

Due to such formidable figures of consistent uprise visits, an increase of tourists and therefore docking is predicted in the next three to five years.

For more information please visit: http://www.acropolissgps.com/

Green light for Madeira

Portuguese Finance Minister Vítor Gaspar gave the green light to Madeira.

Of the 1 Billion Euro predicted to be unlocked this year, according to the financial re-adjustment program, Madeira received 158,6 million Euro in aid this week from the Portuguese government in order to pay the commercial debt due in 2012. This is the first of several installments that is expected throughout the year.

The announcement of the loan release to Madeira was confirmed yesterday by the regional government and a government source stated, "it will be made available to the region immediately”.

As for the outstanding debts from previous years, the payment of around 100 million begins this month and is expected to be paid by the end of the third quarter of 2012.

The decision was reached due to the fact that Madeira completed the "general measures” of the adjustment program for the first quarter of 2012, which led to the authorization by the Portuguese Treasury.

For more information, please visit: http://www.acropolissgps.com/

Madeiran picture wins first prize in Italy

With an image of Madeira’s laurel forest, the Portuguese photographer Luís Quinta, specialized in Nature theme photography, won the "Flowers and Plants" category first prize, at the international ASFERICO 2012 contest in Italy.

As he explained, "The image was captured on the island of Madeira, in Fanal, a beautiful area that has centennial trees and is therefore truly remarkable."

The 6th edition of the ASFERICO nature photography 2012 - organized by the Associazione Fotografi Naturalisti Italiani (AFNI), "Flowers and Plants" category, has awarded the image and as prize, the photographer will receive around 1,200 euros and photographic equipment.

A picture tells a thousands words but to be part of the moment might leave you speechless.

Visit Madeira and find out how remarkable this island truly is.

For further information about rewarding opportunities, please visit: http://www.acropolissgps.com/

"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle". (Winston Churchill)

At Quinta do riacho in Madeira, they know the essence of this proverb.

Whilst enjoying Madeira’s wonderful weather and breathtaking views, there’s an equestrian activity for everyone, including young and older children.

From calm trail riding, to galloping through the mountains. An experience that connects you even more with nature and purges the daily stress.

Make this state of bliss more perpetual. To find out how, please visit: www.acropilissgps.com/news