Latest news with #Madeiran
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Tiny island crowned one of Europe's most underrated is ‘golden oasis' – with beaches that claim to make you healthier
ISLE GO Tiny island crowned one of Europe's most underrated is 'golden oasis' – with beaches that claim to make you healthier A TINY island in the Atlantic Ocean has been labelled one of Europe's best hidden gems and we bet you've never heard of it. The Portuguese gem is nicknamed "the golden oasis," thanks to it's huge golden beaches said to cure sickness, excellent diving and party feasts. 7 Porto Santo, Portugal is one of the most underrated islands according to Avis 7 Advertisement Studying the number of searches and Instagram hashtags different destinations gained, Avis, found Porto Santo as the second most underrated island in Europe. Dubbed a "golden oasis suspended in the Atlantic Ocean" by Visit Madeira, Porto Santo boasts sprawling sandy beaches along its coasts despite being the smallest inhabited island in the Madeira Archipelago. Its biggest is the five and a half-mile-long Porto Santo Beach, which features such calm and crystal-clear waters that it was named the best beach in Europe by the European Best Destinations, back in 2022. But what is particularly unusual about this spot is that the sands are said to have healing qualities. Advertisement High levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sulphur and strontium are found in the sand, and are thought to help regenerate skin and boost red blood cell growth. So, a wander along the beach may be more beneficial than getting some fresh air and vitamin D. Away from the destination's flagship beach, the island has many more stunning coves to explore. At Cabeço da Ponta Beach along the south east coast, holidaymakers can expect a more touristy vibe with numerous restaurants and bars to explore. Advertisement João do Cabeço Restaurant, for example, serves traditional Madeiran dishes such as picado, which translates as chopped meat, and is beef cut into small cubes and fired up with garlic and pepper then eaten using either forks or toothpicks. Make sure to grab a poncha as well, a Madeiran cocktail made with sugar cane brandy, lemon or orange juice and honey. On holiday at the incredible pine cliffs resort in the Algarve Then there's Calheta Beach on the west coast, which is described as the "perfect playground for children," thanks to its mix of clear waters, sand dunes and rock pools, which are home to octopus and crabs. The beach is edged by a small selection of shops, bars and restaurants, including the hugely popular Onda Azul, which is famous for its 'bolo do caco', - a type of Madeiran bread with garlic butter, that the chef makes by hand. On a clear day, visitors can catch a glimpse of the neighbouring island of Madeira from the beach. Advertisement Over on the east coast of the island, travellers will find Cotrim Beach - an often deserted bay, carved out of the rocks of by millions of years of wind and sea erosion. Marine life flourishes in this spot, making it great for snorkelling. For a Blue Flag-awarded beach, head to Fontinha Beach, which is one of the most popular spots among locals and tourists, and is situated in one of the island's busiest areas as it fronts the island's capital of Vila Baleira. 7 The waters around the entire island provide great diving opportunities. Advertisement Even at depths of 40 metres, conditions are usually quite clear, allowing explorers to see sunken ships and an abundance of marine life like sea spiders, rays, moray eels and barracudas. Two ships were purposely sunk off the coast in 2000 and 2016 to create artificial reefs - they sit around 30 metres below the ocean's surface and are home to numerous different species. Other outdoor activities popular on the island include watersports such as windsurfing and also mountain biking, golf, horse riding and fishing. Porto Santo is known as the 'Golden Island' for more than just its beaches. There is also The Porto Santo Biosphere Nature Reserve, home to more than 2,110 species - with some existing only on the island. Advertisement And the island has a long history as well, as centuries ago in 1418, the island provided explorers with safety from the rough seas. Having been sent off course by strong winds, Portuguese navigators João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira discovered the island and named it Porto Santo meaning 'Blessed Harbour'. Then, around 28 years later, a navigator named Henry appointed Bartolomeu Perestrelo as Governor of the island and his daughter eventually married Christopher Columbus. 7 The Italian explorer and navigator is then believed to have spent quite some time on the island, preparing for his trip where he discovered America. Advertisement Travellers can visit the 15th century house, called 'Christopher Columbus House Museum' where the explorer is believed to have lived in the capital of Vila Baleria, which is full of portraits of Columbus and maps. Vila Baleira sits around a main square and is home to the stunning 17th century Church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade. Whilst the outside of the church blends in with the surrounding white-washed and terracotta-tiled buildings, inside visitors will find an ornate Gothic chapel. Many festivals take place in the capital throughout the year as well including Festas de São João towards the end of June. Locals gather in honour of the island's patron saint, to watch a fireworks display, dance and enjoy traditional food and drinks such as ginger cake and hot wine. Advertisement And to honour the famous explorer, Columbus Festival takes place at the end of September with concerts, performances and even a realistic 16th century market. 7 For foodies, there is Nossa Senhora da Graça Feast - a religious festival where locals gather at a chapel by the same name, to have a banquet before heading off on a procession and having a party. If you can't make the feast in mid-August, the check out Casa d'Avo, which is the best rated restaurant on the island with one guest saying it was "one of the best steaks" they've ever had. Another claims it to be "the best place on Porto Santo to get a great meal". Advertisement As for things to do with kids, Quinta das Palmeiras features a mini-botanical garden, spanning across 5,000 square metres. It is a great spot for kids to explore and spot a number of different bird species including parrots and macaws. If you wish to visit the island, the quickest way to get there is to fly from Lisbon - which takes just under two hours. Or if you are staying on Madeira, then you can opt for a day trip via the two-and-a-half-hour long ferry from Funchal, typically costing around £100. For holidaymakers wishing to stay on the island itself, there are several hotels and aparthotels - many of which are all-inclusive and sit close to beaches. Advertisement 7 One option is Vila Baleira Village, which is referred to as "an oasis of endless beauty" according to Visit Madeira. The hotel features a minimalist vibe, with an outdoor pool, bar and restaurant - all just five minutes from Porto Santo beach. TUI also offers bookings at a couple of hotels on the island - Hotel Pestana and Pestana Ilha Dourada Hotel and Villas. At Hotel Pestana, there is a child-friendly outdoor pool and indoor adults-only pool, a reading room and Turkish baths. Advertisement Pestana Ilha Dourada Hotel and Villas offers similar facilities and is a five-minute walk from Combro Beach. Portugal's lesser-visited areas including Algarve-alternative beaches A SUN reporter recently headed to Portugal's lesser-visited areas - here's what they thought... Portugal has so much more to offer than the sun-kissed beaches of the south, especially if you like your vitamin D fix mixed in with a healthy dose of adventure and a side of culture. Our first port of call was Portugal's only national park, the strikingly beautiful Peneda-Geres, where a week of hiking, cycling and traditional cuisine awaited us. It's not just an army that marches on its stomach, but small children, too, and thus with every walk came the chance to sample local mountain cuisine. Our route from the tranquillity of the mountains would not take us to the coast, at least not yet, but instead to the Douro Valley. Famed for its terraced hills where the vineyards produce some of the world's finest port wine, it also benefits from a Mediterranean climate. The station walls at Pinhao are adorned with beautiful blue and white azulejos — traditional Portuguese tiles — depicting scenes from the region. Situated on the Silver Coast, which is a great alternative to the Algarve, Nazare has thankfully retained its charm, despite the rising number of visitors coming to see the waves and daring surfers. But as we discovered, for those wanting a little more variety and adventure in their winter break, Portugal has an abundance of alternatives waiting to be explored. A Portuguese expert has also shared the top hidden places for families – from secret wild islands to hidden caves. Plus, there is a secret side to Portugal that has been crowned one of the best places in Europe to visit this year.
Irish Independent
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Galway Races 2025: Meet the Clare-based man whose stunning floral wall has everyone talking
Today at 02:00 Punters attending the Galway Races throughout the week will have the opportunity to take a rest from the heels or snap some pics in front of a beautiful flower wall installation. Designed by Clare-based Madeiran man Luis Da Silva, the floral area will include a picturesque lilac bench with the actual flower wall installation aiming to showcase a specially commissioned Jack Daly illustration.
The Age
05-06-2025
- General
- The Age
Highlights from a walk in the park
Stewart Martin of Mangerton makes an extraterrestrial observation: 'In the cold pre-dawn darkness, we walk our dogs at the local park. Aliens (C8) flying over would go elsewhere after witnessing earthlings searching for dog poo with their mobile phones.' A lack of bags sometimes leads Caz Willis of Bowral to utilise coffee cups from the bin: 'Watching an owner let his pooch drop and keep walking, I caught up with him and handed him one. The look on his face told me he'd never 'scooped' before. Didn't see him in the park after that.' Forget Madeiran boomerangs (C8), Julie Apps of Pemulwuy, holidaying in the UK says, 'Imagine my surprise to find berthed beside the royal yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, the Spirit of Tasmania. I gather it's there because it won't fit in the new berth in Tasmania and someone won't pay its parking fees. The guides on Britannia think it's great because it hides an industrial eyesore.' With the long weekend approaching, it's D-Day for the cracker night tales (C8), but not before we hear from Jennifer Richardson of Macmasters Beach: 'As a child, we had the largest bonfire in the neighbourhood, built by the kids in the area. Part of the final ceremony was to put an effigy on the top. My brothers decided it should be female and well-dressed. Imagine my mum's surprise when she saw her favourite dress going up in flames atop the bonfire.' 'In the 1980s, my young brother returned home in the wee hours after a big night out on the turps and messing with bungers,' writes David Ramsay of Bexley. 'After putting on a toastie, he fell asleep. Overnight the toaster disintegrated and filled the house with acrid smoke. On awakening, my mother declared: 'They're just going to have to ban cracker night!'' 'What a heartless lot these cracker night tragics are (C8)!' affirms Kerrie Wehbe of Blacktown. 'All that boys-will-be-boys nostalgia for all that carnage, and not an apology in sight.' Just regarding all that boys-will-be-boys nostalgia, we'd like to thank Judy Jones, Libby Cameron, Meri Will, Joan Hayward, Rhonda Ellis and Jennifer from Macmasters for their cracker night sagas. Lesley McBurney of Wavell Heights (Qld) returns to the Baby Book (C8): 'I, too, would drive my firstborn to her gran's to eat brains which I cannot stand. We called it 'yummy food', to avoid having to admit what it was.'
Sydney Morning Herald
05-06-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Highlights from a walk in the park
Stewart Martin of Mangerton makes an extraterrestrial observation: 'In the cold pre-dawn darkness, we walk our dogs at the local park. Aliens (C8) flying over would go elsewhere after witnessing earthlings searching for dog poo with their mobile phones.' A lack of bags sometimes leads Caz Willis of Bowral to utilise coffee cups from the bin: 'Watching an owner let his pooch drop and keep walking, I caught up with him and handed him one. The look on his face told me he'd never 'scooped' before. Didn't see him in the park after that.' Forget Madeiran boomerangs (C8), Julie Apps of Pemulwuy, holidaying in the UK says, 'Imagine my surprise to find berthed beside the royal yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, the Spirit of Tasmania. I gather it's there because it won't fit in the new berth in Tasmania and someone won't pay its parking fees. The guides on Britannia think it's great because it hides an industrial eyesore.' With the long weekend approaching, it's D-Day for the cracker night tales (C8), but not before we hear from Jennifer Richardson of Macmasters Beach: 'As a child, we had the largest bonfire in the neighbourhood, built by the kids in the area. Part of the final ceremony was to put an effigy on the top. My brothers decided it should be female and well-dressed. Imagine my mum's surprise when she saw her favourite dress going up in flames atop the bonfire.' 'In the 1980s, my young brother returned home in the wee hours after a big night out on the turps and messing with bungers,' writes David Ramsay of Bexley. 'After putting on a toastie, he fell asleep. Overnight the toaster disintegrated and filled the house with acrid smoke. On awakening, my mother declared: 'They're just going to have to ban cracker night!'' 'What a heartless lot these cracker night tragics are (C8)!' affirms Kerrie Wehbe of Blacktown. 'All that boys-will-be-boys nostalgia for all that carnage, and not an apology in sight.' Just regarding all that boys-will-be-boys nostalgia, we'd like to thank Judy Jones, Libby Cameron, Meri Will, Joan Hayward, Rhonda Ellis and Jennifer from Macmasters for their cracker night sagas. Lesley McBurney of Wavell Heights (Qld) returns to the Baby Book (C8): 'I, too, would drive my firstborn to her gran's to eat brains which I cannot stand. We called it 'yummy food', to avoid having to admit what it was.'
The Age
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Focusing on the younger set
'Don't let anyone tell you that oldies are not technically minded,' says Nola Scott of Estella. 'I, aged 90-plus, taught my masseuse, aged 20-something, how to use Google camera on her smartphone.' All these bangin' takes on cracker night (C8) have led to numerous recollections of folks getting inventive with one's fireworks, which will be today's focus, starting with Joan Hayward of Narrawallee: 'My father provided the highlight of cracker night for the neighbourhood kids. He'd fill a balloon with oxyacetylene, tape a row of Tom Thumbs to it, then as it slowly rose into the air, he'd light the lowest Tom Thumb. The result? Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! KABOOM! I swear the whole landscape shook.' Peter Nelson of Moss Vale recalls that 'when holidaying in Coffs Harbour in 1960, friends I was staying with showed me how to put a marble in a four-foot steel rod with a tuppenny bunger and watch the marble fly out at lightning speed. Could have killed someone.' 'Choko projectiles (C8) remind me of the 1950s when we Kogarah kids had an airgun but couldn't afford the pellets,' says Rhonda Ellis of Lismore. 'We'd shoot at each other using the berries from a privet hedge. Yes, it hurt.' 'Some 65 years ago, I discovered that toaster element wire wound around the fuse of a double bunger and connected to a car battery would light the bunger,' writes Peter Crowfoot of Normanhurst. 'A friend and I buried a number of these wired bungers along both sides of a local forest walking path and ran wires from each one back to a hiding place. When suitable (i.e. non-adult) test subjects appeared and were in position, we connected the wires to a battery in random order. The result was pandemonium, as we had hoped. Note: no person was injured by this experiment.' 'Wendy Illingworth and her Madeiran boomerangs (C8) has provided proof, once again, of the adage that once you can fake authenticity, you're on the road to success,' declares Marcus Daniel of Bellingen. 'The next challenge is to fake sincerity, then you've really got it made.' Regarding the possibility of aliens watching from above (C8) as we carry our dogs' deposits around in little bags, Jack Dikian of Mosman thinks 'should they be able to read our companions' mind -– it would be 'My name isn't Rover, and I am not specially a good boy'.'
