Madeira, a kaleidoscope of colours in the middle of the Atlantic

A kaleidoscope of colours along the streets, in the small villages that dot its coastline, in the farmers' markets full of delicious tropical fruits (the Mercados Dos Lavradores in the capital Funchal is beautiful), in the skies that light up at night with majestic fireworks. Stunningly unique flowers and centuries-old trees are its most precious wealth along with the friendliness of the people. It is no coincidence that the Madeira archipelago takes its name from the wood that is harvested from the trees in the forests scattered throughout. In Portuguese, in fact, Ilha da Madeira, derives from 'madeira' which means, precisely, wood. The largest island of the archipelago of the same name is a handkerchief of Portugal in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, closer to Africa than to Europe. In addition, there is the other inhabited island, the small Porto Santo, whose golden beaches are a true year-round enchantment, and then three small unspoilt and uninhabited paradises (islands of volcanic origin: Deserta Grande, Bugio and Ilhéu Chão), now a protected nature park, little more than rocks, the privileged refuge of the monk seal.