01 to 07 December
January
Christmas lights in downtown and amphitheatre of Funchal Schedule Every day 18:00 – 01:00 With exceptions to: 25 and 30 December 18:00 – 04:00 23, 24 and 31 December 18:00 – 06:00
Light Animation From the first day of December, Funchal city dresses up to celebrate Christmas. Its streets, plazas and riversides are adorned with various Christmas motifs, creating true light and colour shows which alternate between tunnels and dances, awakening the Christmas spirit in the young and old alike. Largo do Phelps | North Wall of the São Lourenço Palace | Praça do Colombo | Rua Câmara Pestana Christmas lights in Porto Santo Vila Baleira Schedule Every day 18:00 – 01:00 With exceptions to: 24 and 31 December 18:00 – 04:00
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
Ambient music Christmas Market Performances by folklore and concert groups as well as philharmonic bands Ethnographic exhibitions and living pictures
1 Christmas Market
Fresh fruit, plants, Madeira wine, sugarcane honey and its by-products, as well as traditional regional gastronomy of the Christmas season, are some of the regional 1 products to be found at this Christmas Diverse performances Market. The Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga The ambient music surrounds the carefully serves as a stage for daily performances, decorated houses, with visitors being with philharmonic bands, folklore and embraced by the Christmas atmosphere concert groups entertaining those present. and invited to socialize and partake in the Let yourself be captivated by the melody, joy celebration. and animation which lingers in the air! Schedule 5 Nativity Scene Sunday to Thursday 10:00 – 00:00 The local traditions of creatively mounting Friday and Saturday the nativity scene can be admired here, 10:00 – 01:00 where twelve life-sized polychromatic 24 December carved figures, represent the birth of Baby 10:00 – 18:00 Jesus. Visible from various angles, whilst 23, 30 and 31 December inserted in a setting surrounded by trees and 10:00 – 04:00 a wide range of locally produced flowers and 25 December and 1 January plants, a small roofed house welcomes the Closed family from Nazareth.
2 Ethnographic Village
Various traditions of the Madeiran Culture, such as gastronomy, handicrafts and folklore, are depicted live in the Ethnographic Village to be found in Largo da Restauração. Here, whilst tasting the typical wheat soup and the traditional Bolo do Caco, one can admire the two types of the traditional Madeiran nativity scenes on exhibitions: the nativity scene which replicates our humanized and natural landscape, including its vegetation, terraces, creeks, houses and sheds; as well as the staircase nativity scene, consisting of a small altar, in the form of steps, featuring Baby Jesus at the top. Schedule 1 to 17 December and 1 to 7 January Sunday to Thursday 10:00 – 22:30 Friday and Saturday 10:00 – 23:30 18 to 31 December Monday to Sunday 10:00 – 23:30 24 December 10:00 – 18:00 25 December Closed
1 Madeira Embroidery and Regional
Handicraft Pavilion Madeira Embroidery and Regional Handicraft are promoted by the Madeira Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute (IVBAM), through the daily presence of various producers and artisans, who exhibit and sell their items, which can be chosen as unique and exquisite Christmas gifts. Schedule 01 to 19 December 2023 | Madeira Embroidery 20 December to 07 January 2024 | Madeira Handicraft 10:00 – 19:00
3 Children’s Christmas
Municipal Garden The Municipal Garden is transformed into a true Christmas Garden, with Christmas lights such as Santa Claus, a sleigh, a train, reindeer, snowmen, polar bears, Christmas balls and much color and light. Here, the children’s imaginary Christmas comes to life, fueling the imagination of those big and small, adding to the joy and emotion of the visitors.
5
01
December
Friday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
15:00 Performance by Associação Recreativa de Nossa Senhora de Fátima do Arco de São Jorge Folk Area 11:00 Performance by Grupo de Folclore Romarias e Tradições da Camacha Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by Grupo Musical Sons da Tradição 21:00 Concert by Filipe Passos “No Atlântico Me Confesso”
01,02,03,08, 09,10,16,17, 23,24, 26, 29 and 30
02
December
10“Foi Aquintrodia” (It was just the other
Day) Praça do Povo 12:30 – 13:30 Avenida Arriaga Central Walkway 13:30 – 14:30 Municipal Garden 14:30 – 15:30 Participate in various cultural activities, traditional games and displays of everyday Madeiran life of former times, which are here displayed, hosted and monitored by members of the Camacha Youth Folklore Group and the Camacha Children’s Folklore Group.
December
Saturday 1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 11:00 Performance by the Santa Cruz Municipal Band Folk Area 15:00 Performance by the Rochão Folklore Group Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by Orquestra Bandolinística Ribeira-Bravense 21:00 Concert by Pilares de Banger
03
December
Sunday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
15:00 Performance by the São Vicente Community Centre Philharmonic Band Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Porto da Cruz Folklore Group Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by Heloísa Sousa 21:00 Concert by LAB Project
04
December
Monday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
11:00 Performance by the São Lourenço da Camacha Parish Band 18:00 Performance by the Funchal Municipal Band – Artistas Funchalenses Concert Stage 21:00 Concert by Upright Ntet
05,07,19,21, 27 e 29 02 e 04 December
January
1
Christmas Workshops Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Concert Stage 15:00 – 16:00 The Christmas Workshops allow for the making and sharing of treats, thus diffusing the genuine Madeiran traditions of this season. On the designated days and times, next to the stage in Avenida Arriaga, one can learn how to make various traditional treats, such as Poncha and Bolo do Caco, amongst other recipes typical of this season, Bonecas de Massa (dough dolls), decorating Christmas tables, and various other traditional Madeiran features, at no cost.
05
06
December
Tuesday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Gaula Community Centre Folklore Group 18:00 Performance by the Calheta Folklore Group Concert Stage 15:00 Christmas Liqueurs Workshop – Curral das Freiras Community Centre 21:00 Concert by Francisco Andrade 4tet
December
Wednesday
1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 11:00 Performance by the Santo António Philharmonic Band 18:00 Performance by the Caniço and Eiras Philharmonic Band Folk Area 15:00 Performance by the Quinta Grande Folklore Cultural and Recreational Group Concert Stage 21:00 Concert by Live Brisk
07
December
Thursday 1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Gaula Community Centre Folklore Group 18:00 Performance by the Santo António Cultural Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 15:00 Christmas Decorations Workshop – João Egídio 21:00 Concert by the WestSide Band
1 João Gonçalves Zarco Statue
20:00 Orienteering Tour – Christmas Lights The Christmas lights are one of the main attractions of this season, providing enchanting walks in Funchal. By using your cell phone, the Orienteering Tour allows you to choose your own route and digitally mark your passage through various emblematic locations with the famous Christmas lights. Locals and visitors are invited to come together and choose their route, culminating in a meeting point on this night of light.
08
December
Friday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
11:00 Performance by the Câmara de Lobos Municipal Band Folk Area 15:00 Performance by the Camacha Youth Folklore Group Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by Micaela Setim 20:00 Concert by Miguel Pires – Tribute to Elton John
3 Municipal Garden
21:30 Concert by the Empress Sissy Hungarian Salon Orchestra – “Christmas Around a World” The Empress Sissy Hungarian Salon Orchestra invites Madeiran singers, such as Vânia Fernandes, Maria Ferreira, Duarte Santos and the tenor Alberto Sousa, to perform the concert “Christmas Around a World” together. This unique show, alluding to Christmas, features Christmas melodies and songs from different nations and cultures, sung in different languages, further including Disney themes, thus invoking children’s Christmas imagination.
09
December
Saturday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
15:00 Performance by the São Lourenço da Camacha Parish Band Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Calheta Folklore Group Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by Mariachi México Madeira 21:00 Concert by the Madeira Fado Association
10
December
Sunday
1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 11:00 Performance by the Ribeira Brava Municipal Band Folk Area 15:00 Performance by Associação Tradições de Gaula – TRAGA Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by the Madeira Light Orchestra 21:00 Concert by Atlantic Vibes
11 to 15
December
1 17th School Choir Festival of the
Autonomous Region of Madeira – Artistic Education Department Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Concert Stage 11:00 and 16:00 The Regional School Choir Festival is an event which brings together pupils from schools in Funchal. Over the festival, the public is invited to assist and enjoy the singing of dozens of Christmas songs, in which diverse genres and music styles will be explored.
11
December
Monday 1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Folk Area 18:00 Performance by the Monte Verde Folklore Group Concert Stage 21:00 Concert by the Jazz Quartet with Madalena Caldeira
12 and 13
December
Let’s decorate the Tree Arquivo Regional e Biblioteca da Madeira The gardens of the Madeira Regional Archive and Library host the event “Let’s decorate the Christmas tree”, where several Christmas trees are decorated with motifs made by children from schools and persons attending social solidarity institutions. The Camacha Youth Folklore Group and the Camacha Children’s Folklore Group liven up this moment with traditional Madeiran performances and representations.
11
12
December
Tuesday
1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 18:00 Performance by the Faial Philharmonic Band Folk Area 13:00 Performance by the São Martinho Community Centre Folklore Cultural and Recreational Group Concert Stage 21:00 Concert by Francisco Lopes Trio
13
December
Wednesday 1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 13:00 Performance by the Machico Municipal Band Folk Area 18:00 Performance by the Ponta do Sol Folklore Group Concert Stage 21:00 Concert by Galáxia
14
December
Thursday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
18:00 Performance by the Santa Cruz Municipal Band Folk Area 13:00 Gaula Community Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by Susana Andrade 21:00 Concert by INLAY
15 to 23
16
December
Saturday December
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
11:00 Performance by the Ribeira Brava Municipal Cathedral Band 07:30 Folk Area In the early hours of the days, from the 15th 15:00 to the 23rd of December, a novena called Performance by the São Martinho Missas do Parto, or the Childbirth masses, Community Centre Folklore Cultural and is celebrated, marking the beginning of Recreational Group the religious Christmas celebrations, and Concert Stage one of the most genuine traditions of the 18:00 Madeiran Christmas period. During the Concert by C’azoada religious ceremony, churchgoers sing popular 21:00 verses in honour of the Mother of God and Concert by Triova Voices Baby Jesus. At the end of the ceremony, the churchyards are the setting of the season’s 7 English Church regional and traditional music, as well as 18:00 tastings of the most diverse Christmas A Melodious Christmas – Associação dos delicacies such as cocoa, chicken soup, carne Amigos do Conservatório de Música da vinha d’alhos (meat marinated in wine and Madeira garlic), biscuits and liqueurs. 08:15 Performance by Associação do Grupo de Romarias e Tradições da Camacha
5 Childbirth Masses
15
17
December
Friday 1
December
Sunday
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 13:00 Performance by the Câmara de Lobos Orchestral Band – Os Infantes Folk Area 18:00 Performance by the Santana Community Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 21:00 Concert by Letícia & Friends
1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 15:00 Performance by the Santana Municipal Band Folk Area 11:00 Performance by Grupo de Romarias Antigas do Rochão Concert Stage 17:00 Concert by the Arco da Calheta Choral Group 21:00 Concert by Andrea Vergel
13
18 to 30
December
26th Christmas Choir Festival – Christmas in Funchal - Orfeão Madeirense The Choir Festival titled “Christmas in Funchal”, to be held in various churches, presents Christmas Choral Music sung by various choirs from the Region. This is an event organized by Orfeão Madeirense, the oldest Choral Group in Madeira and one of the oldest in Portugal, founded in 1919. 1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
Concert Stage 18 and 20 December 21:00 5 Cathedral 27 December 21:30 8 Carmo Church 29 December 21:30 9 Jesuit Church 30 December 21:30
18
December
Monday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
11:00 and 18:00 Performance by Banda de Recreio Camponês 19:00 Performance by Tuna Universitária da Madeira Folk Area 15:00 Performance by the Camacha Youth Folklore Group Concert Stage 11:00 Christmas Facial Paintings – Artistic Education Department
9 Jesuit Church
21:00 Christmas Concert – Academic Orchestra and Ninfas do Atlântico do Conservatório
19
December
Tuesday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Caniçal Community Centre Folklore Group 18:00 Performance by the Camacha Community Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 11:00 Christmas Facial Paintings – Artistic Education Department 15:00 Christmas Menu Workshop – Chef Carlos Azevedo 21:00 Concert by Thelma Relva & Fénix Band
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Largo da Restauração
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Municipal Garden
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Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
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Cathedral
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Madeira Congress Centre
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English Church
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Carmo Church
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10
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21
December
Thursday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Campanário Community Centre Folklore Group 18:00 Performance by the Machico Folklore Group Concert Stage 15:00 Christmas Tables Workshop – Bordal 21:00 Concert by The Whyte Blues Band
20
December
Wednesday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
22
Friday
December
11:00 1 Performance by the Santana Municipal Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Band 11:00 18:00 Performance by the Paulense Municipal Performance by the Faial Philharmonic Band Band 19:00 22:00 Performance by Camachofones Performance by Borracheiros Folk Area Folk Area 15:00 15:00 Performance by Associação Tradições de Performance by the Porto da Cruz Folklore Gaula – TRAGA Group Concert Stage Concert Stage 10:30 18:00 Reading of a Christmas Tale – Educational Concert by Banda D’Além Services of the Madeira Regional Archive 21:00 and Library Concert by Joves Band & Special Guests
23 Saturday
1
December
24
December
Sunday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 15:00 11:00 Performance by the Funchal Municipal Band Performance by the Caniço and Eiras – Artistas Funchalenses Philharmonic Band Folk Area Folk Area 11:00 14:00 Performance by the Campanário Performance by the São Martinho Community Centre Folklore Group Community Centre Folklore Cultural and Concert Stage Recreational Group 18:00 Concert Stage Concert by Xarabanda 16:00 21:00 Concert by XMAS PROJECT Concert by Tiago Sena Silva “A Merry Funkin’ Christmas”
19
26
December
Tuesday
1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 11:00 Performance by the Funchal District Band – Os Guerrilhas 15:00 Performance by Borracheiros Concert Stage 18:00 Só Xutos Concert by AoAkaso 21:00 Concert by the Black Dogs Blues Band
6 Madeira Congress Centre
20:00 Concert by the Empress Sissy Hungarian Salon Orchestra - “Romantic Winter Wonderland 2023”
Tickets for sale at Fórum Madeira and on site at the show
27
December
Wednesday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Machico Folklore Group 18:00 Performance by the Ribeira Brava Community Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 15:00 Artisan Chocolate Workshop – UAUCACAU 21:00 Concert by Blue Oak
29
December
Friday 1
28
30 1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 11:00 Performance by the Machico Municipal Band 15:00 Performance by the Funchal District Band – Os Guerrilhas Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by Gold Label & Friends 21:00 Concert by the Joaquim Machado Quartet
4
Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre 18:00 Music for the New Year: A Latin Party Concert by Associação Amigos do Conservatório de Música da Madeira
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
11:00 Performance by the Paulense Municipal Band 18:00 Performance by the Câmara de Lobos Municipal Band Folk Area 15:00 Performance by the Ponta do Sol Folklore Group Concert Stage 21:00 Concert by Banda Alexandra Barbosa
4
December
Saturday
December
Thursday
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the São Martinho Community Centre Folklore Cultural and Recreational Group Concert Stage 15:00 New Year Cocktails Workshop – Madeira Barmen Association 18:00 Concert by Vânia Fernandes with the BCH Classic Jazz Trio 21:00 Concert by Maya Blandy
Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre 18:00 End of the Year Concert – Madeira Classical 10 Praça do Povo Orchestra 22:00 – 23:15 Tickets for sale at the Baltazar Dias Municipal Concert by the Bruna Band Theatre
21
31
December
Sunday 1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 14:00 Performance by Borracheiros Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Santa Cruz Community Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 16:00 Concert by the Fajã da Ovelha String Group 19:00 Concert by the Catarina Melim Project
10Praça do Povo
22:30 – 23:30 Concert by the Stardust Acoustic Project 23:30 – 00:00 DJ SIL 00:15 – 01:30 Concert by AFROSON 01:30 – 02:30 DJ SIL Countdown to the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show 23:40 The last 20 minutes before 00:00 of 2024 will count on a great show taking place in the Funchal Pier, as a countdown to midnight. This pyrotechnic and audiovisual show, which includes the projection of items from the ground, will be alternated with lasers and innovative light elements, creating dances of light in the sky, among other surprise effects, while leading spectators into the New Year.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show Funchal | Porto Santo
00:00 Eight minutes of the fireworks show at the turn of the year, welcome the year 2024. This turn of the year counts on a total of 59 fireworks stations located in the Funchal amphitheatre (27), between Pier 8 and Praia Almirante Reis (25), at sea (5) and Porto Santo Island (2). This majestic spectacle of light and colour, with pyrotechnic effects which combine the most modern designs, will present effects never seen on New Year’s Eve in the Region, a show which in 2006 was internationally recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as “The Biggest Fireworks Display in the World”.
01
03
January
Wednesday
January
1
Monday
4 Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
17:00 and 20:00 End of the Year Concert – Madeira Classical Orchestra Tickets for sale at the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
6 Madeira Congress Centre
17:00 New Year’s Concert - “Strauss Orquestra de Salão Internacional”
02
04
January
Tuesday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
Folk Area 18:00 Performance by the Camacha Community Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 15:00 Bolo do Caco Workshop – Casinha do Bolo do Caco 21:00 Concert by Contratempo
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 18:00 Performance by Associação Recreativa de Nossa Senhora de Fátima do Arco de São Jorge Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Monte Verde Folklore Group 15:00 Performance by the Santo António Cultural Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 21:00 Concert by the Jazz Constellation
January
Thursday 1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Folk Area 18:00 Performance by the Rochão Folklore Group Concert Stage 15:00 Bolo Rei (Kings Cake) Workshop – Doce Cereja 21:00 Concert by No Name Band
05
January
Friday
1
Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga 15:00 Performance by the São Vicente Community Centre Philharmonic Band Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the São Martinho Community Centre Folklore Cultural and Recreational Group Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by Agridoce
3 Municipal Garden
19:00 Chants of the Epiphany On the 5th of January, at 7 pm, hymns of the Epiphany are sung in the auditorium of the Municipal Garden, in a concert open to the public, which revives this Madeiran tradition. The arrival of the Three Kings is celebrated on the 6th of January, and tradition has it that it be celebrated with the famous Bolo-Rei (Three King’s Cake), which contains a broad bean and a small gift inside. According to tradition, whoever is lucky enough to receive the slice which contains the broad bean, will have to buy the cake the following year, and whoever gets the gift will have to buy the drinks, thus keeping to tradition year after year.
25
06
January
Saturday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
11:00 Performance by the Câmara de Lobos Orchestral Band – Os Infantes Folk Area 15:00 Performance by the Quinta Grande Folklore Cultural and Recreational Group Concert Stage 18:00 Concert by the Madeira Chamber Choir 21:00 Concert by Desdobramento
07
January
Sunday
1 Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga
15:00 Performance by the Santo António Philharmonic Band Folk Area 11:00 Performance by the Caniçal Community Centre Folklore Group Concert Stage 18:00 Concerto by Banda 3D 21:00 Concert by Júlia Ochôa
27
AND STILL…
Nativity scenes around the island
A nativity scene is a spontaneous creation which represents the birth of Jesus Christ, and has become an icon of Christmas in Madeira. While some maintain this tradition, others modernize it. Natural material is usually used, or any other which is available, in the setting up of the traditional lapinha, in the form of a staircase, or the nativity scene, using paper imitating a rocky grotto, yet all different as they result from the creativity of each creator, influenced by the environment where they live. Around the island, there are nativity scenes which are true works of art and open to the public for visits. For more information, visit the website: visitmadeira.com at Christmas and New Year Festivities
Christmas at the Museums
There are magnificent examples of paintings and portable altarpieces of Flemish origin, nativity boxes, polychrome clay figure collections, Baby Jesus figures, staircase nativity scenes and recreations of traditional nativity scenes, in Madeira’s Museums. Thus, itineraries to visit the nativity scenes are available in some of Funchal’s Museums (Sacred Art Museum, Frederico de Freitas House-Museum, Quinta das Cruzes Museum and Universe of Memories – João Carlos Abreu), as well as the Madeira Ethnographic Museum, in Ribeira Brava, which features “Lapinha do Caseiro”, one of the most iconic nativity scenes on the Island. Admissions are free.
Exhibition “Christmas Tables with Madeira Embroidery”
Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre The 8th edition of this exhibition, which has been inspiring residents and visitors to set the table for Christmas (A Festa), will take place in the Nobel Hall of the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre, where you can admire the creations of 6 hotels and 2 associations, which accepted the challenge of presenting “their” Christmas table, where the key element is Madeira Embroidery. This is an exhibition by Bordal in co-production with the Municipality of Funchal. It will be open every day to the public, from the 13th of December to the 4th of January 2024, except for 24, 25, 26, 31 December 2023 and 1 January 2024. Schedule: Mondays and Tuesdays 10:00 – 17:30 Wednesday to Friday 10:00 – 19:00 Saturdays and Sundays 15:00 – 19:00 23 December 10:00 – 13:00
1 December 2023 to 7 January 2024
Events alluding to Christmas in the various municipalities of the Region.
Digital Christmas
These festivities can be assisted in digital format, with the detailed programme being available on the Madeira Tourism Board’s official website, Madeira Events and social networks at: www.visitmadeira.com www.facebook.com/visitmadeiraofficial www.instagram.com/visitmadeira/ www.eventsmadeira.com
Note: Programme subject to change.
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visitmadeira.com