May 9th to 15th
“The Route of Flowers – from the Farmers’ Market to Infante’s Roundabout” – Performances by local folk dancing groups, multiple exhibitions, music and floral decorations
Floral Carpets – Arriaga Avenue central square, in front of the Cathedral and the Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
Flower Market – Arriaga Avenue central square, opposite to the Tourist Information Centre
“Endemic Route: Dactylorhiza Foliosa” – Arts project in the northern garden of São Lourencço Palace
58th Flower Exhibition at Restauração Square (Largo da Restauração) – Organised by the Regional Board for the Environment and Natural Resources
“Madeira Embroidery inspired by Flowers” – Organised by the Madeira Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute (IVBAM) - Arriaga Avenue central square, opposite to Loja do Cidadão from 10 am to 8 pm.

Madeira storks bill Geranium madeirensis

Thursday, May 9th
Official opening of the Flower Festival
3 pm – 8 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by the Camacha Cultural and Recreational Association
3 pm – 6 pm – Project “Flowers and Gastronomy” – Carving Show: flowers' decorations - Chafariz Square (Largo do Chafariz)
Project “Perfume Party”:
4 pm – 6 pm – "Madeira Wine Blind Aroma Experience" - Arriaga Avenue central square, opposite to the Tourist Information Centre
5:30pm–“PerfumeParade”:young people in typical regional costume offering scents and perfumes -Arriaga Avenue central square, opposite to the Tourist Information Centre
6 pm – Opening of the exhibition “Perfumed Painting” with a concert by the mandolin player Maestro Norberto Cruz followed by a Madeira Wine tasting experience - Espacço Infoarte of the Regional Board of Tourism (until May 15th)

Friday, May 10th
10 am – 1 pm – Project “Flowers and Gastronomy” – Carving Show: flowers' decorations - Chafariz Square (Largo do Chafariz)
10 am – 3 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by the Boa Nova Ethnographic and Folk Group
3 pm – 6:30 pm – Event “Casar na Madeira / Getting Married in Madeira”– display of bridal dresses and sweets, cake tasting and musical entertainment - Phelps Square
3 pm – 8 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by the Folk Group of Casa do Povo da Camacha

Saturday, May 11th
Children's Parade and Wall of Hope Ceremony:
9 am – Children gathering at Arriaga Avenue, in front of the Municipal Garden
10 am – Children's Parade – Itinerary: Arriaga Avenue, Zarco Avenue, Câmara Pestana Road and Municipal Square (Praça do Municipio)
11 am – Symbolic construction of the Wall of Hope at the Municipal Square – Release of pigeons and live show for children by an entertainment group
10 am – 1 pm – Project “Flowers and Gastronomy” – Themed workshops: Scabbard fish and pork marinated in wine and garlic: history and preparation - Chafariz Square (Largo do Chafariz)
10 am – 2 pm – Event “Casar na Madeira / Getting Married in Madeira”– display of bridal dresses and sweets and cake tasting, floral decorations and musical entertainment - Phelps Square (Largo do Phelps)
10 am – 8 pm – II Reid’s Palace Classic Auto Show – Estrada Monumental from Edifício Baia main entrance to Paz Square (Largo da Paz)
3 pm – 8 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by the Boa Nova Ethnographic and Folk Group

Sunday, May 12th
10 am – 3 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by the Folk Group of Casa do Povo da Camacha
10 am – 1 pm – Project “Flowers and Gastronomy” – Themed workshops: Honey Cake : History and preparation - Chafariz Square (Largo do Chafariz)
2 pm – 6 pm – Event “Casar na Madeira / Getting Married in Madeira”– wide range of entertainment activities | Phelps Square (Largo do Phelps)
4 pm – Flower Festival Parade
Itinerary: Departure from Autonomia Square (Praça da Autonomia), Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses (north lane), Francisco Sá Carneiro Roundabout and ends at Mar Square (Praça do Mar).
- Floats exhibition at Mar Square (Praça do Mar) until May 14th

Monday, May 13th
10 am – 3 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by the Boa Nova Ethnographic and Folk Group
10 am – 1 pm – Project “Flowers and Gastronomy” – Themed workshops: Regional Fruit and Vegetables – An orchard in the Atlantic - Chafariz Square (Largo do Chafariz)
3 pm – 8 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by Monteverde Folk Group

Tuesday, May 14th
10 am – 3 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by the Boa Nova Ethnographic and Folk Group
4 pm – 6:30 pm – Project “Flowers and Gastronomy” – Regional sweets preparation and demonstration - Chafariz Square (Largo do Chafariz)

Wednesday, May 15th
10 am – 3 pm – Performances in Funchal downtown by the Monteverde Folk Group
Project “Perfume Party”: 4 pm – 6 pm – "Madeira Wine Blind Aroma Experience" – Arriaga Avenue central square, opposite to the Tourist Information Centre
5:30 pm – “Perfume Parade”: young people in typical regional costume offering scents and perfumes – Arriaga Avenue central squares opposite to the Tourist Information Centre
6 pm – Presentation of the Perfume Isle of Madeira with concert by the mandolin player Maestro Norberto Cruz - Espaço Infoarte of Regional Board of Tourism

Source: Madeira Tourism Board

On the 4th, 5th and 6th of July 2013 Madeira is hosting the 14th edition of Funchal Jazz Festival. Year after year this jazz festival is gaining quality and it makes more difficult to choose the performers for the coming festival... But Funchal Jazz Organisation has overcome the challenges and always surprise us with great names of the Jazz world. And 2013 is no different! This year the central garden of Santa Catarina Park, in Funchal, will be the stage for the legendary Chick Corea & The Vigil.

Chick Corea is a versatile musician, covering areas as symphonic music or children's songs and has won 18 Grammy in 50 years of an intensive career. The remain program with the other performers is being finalized and will be published soon.

So, if you do like Jazz, book your holiday in Madeira for the first week of July and ally a relaxing holiday with three fantastic Jazz evenings!

Following the success of the last four years, once again we will broadcast Madeira New Year Fireworks 2012-2013. Live broadcast will start at 23:55 GMT.
Sponsored by: Wind Birds, Quintinha São João, Adaptive

Madeira New Year's 2013 Fireworks live broadcast! The 5th year broadcasting this amazing fireworks display! bit.ly/V4hNSI

— Hugo Romano (@adaptive) December 26, 2012

It is our responsibility to prevent those who visit Madeira that there are confirmed cases of dengue fever in the island. Since 2005 that Funchal has the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a vector for transmitting several tropical deseases, such as dengue and yellow fevers. Until end of September 2012 there were no cases of dengue fever in Madeira so the mosquitos were here but did not carry any desease but now, there has been a few people with this desease and so the Aedes aegypti mosquitos are prone to transmit it.

Dengue fever is a common desease in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world and is now endemic to more than 110 countries. There are four strains of the virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4) and in Madeira we only get the DENV-1 which is the least severe one.

The Aedes aegypti mosquitos are easily identified by its blackish body with white markings on legs and part of the body. They normally fly low, like indoor and shady areas and bite during day time.

The characteristic symptoms of dengue are sudden-onset fever, headache (typically located behind the eyes), muscle and joint pains and rash. Children often experience vomiting and diarrhea though generally have less severe symptoms than adults. During your stay or within 14 days after returning home, if you feel any of the dengue symptoms, do not take acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) and other anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen), you may take paracetamol to control the fever and pains until you get to the doctor and you should tell the doctor it might be dengue fever.

In Madeira the Aedes aegypti mosquitos are only found, so far, in Santa Cruz, Funchal and Câmara de Lobos and on the lower altitudes of these councils.

Personal protective measures can be taken to reduce the risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito:

• Use insect repellent that contain 20% to 30% concentration of DEET (N, N-diethylmetatoluamide) on exposed skin to repel mosquitos. For children under 10 years old the maximum concentration of DEET is 10%
• Wear long-sleeved shirts which, long trousers and hats to cover exposed skin
• Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
• When using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and then repellent. Repellent should be washed off at the end of the day before going to bed.

This article was written for Madeira tourists to be aware of this problem but not to push them away from our beautiful island.

On the night of July 18, 2012 a huge wild fire developed in the west outskirts of Funchal city, more precisely in Palheiro Ferreiro. Several people were affected by this event and two Hotels have been evacuated under precautionary measures, though not a single tourist was injured during this process.

Between Thursday and Sunday several other fires erupted all over Madeira: São Gonçalo, Gaula, Assomada, Camacha, Águas Mansas, Achadas da Cruz, Porto Moniz, Santo da Serra, Ponta do Pargo, Lombada dos Marinheiros, Machico, Caniçal, Ribeira Brava, Paúl da Serra.

Current assessment is that all wildfires have been extinguished and are being monitored for possible re-ignitions. During the last four days no deadly victims have been reported.

Our update comes late, because we had to help family, friends and customers.

We strongly recommend that before starting your journey in Madeira you check which roads have been blocked. If you are a tourist ask advice from your Hotel reception.