On Friday, the 20th of November 2009, at 6 pm in FNAC shop in Madeira Shopping Center, Suzana Fontinha and José Felisberto Almeida will present their new book: "Olhar o / Looking at Porto Santo".

"Looking at Porto Santo" aims to guide you through the beauties of Porto Santo with emphasis on nature, from micro to macro, presenting local plants, animals and rocks to which are associated some cultural and historical aspects as well as some legends.

This is a guide book, written in a simple and accessible way but with scientific facts. It has 152 pages with 150 images and it is written in Portuguese and in English. The book was financed by the authors with the support of Centro de Estudos da Macaronésia and from Porto Santo City Hall.

The hotel "Jardim dos Prazeres" and the maritime leisure company "Lobosonda", both based in Calheta, Madeira Island, are presenting a photo exhibition of Dolphins and Whales on Madeira sea.


The photos were taken by the enthusiastic couple Claudia & Rafael Gomes, owners of Lobosonda company, on their dolphin and whale watching trips along the southwest coast of Madeira.


This exhibition is opened from now until the end of July 2009 and it is open to all public. Do not miss it!

Book today: Madeira Tours on Madeira Atlantic Festival Fireworks.

The Madeira Atlantic Festival is held in June and it is becoming one of the most important events in Madeira Island. It starts on the 4th of June, with the inauguration of the 1st Display of Vintage and Classic Motorbikes in the Infoarte space of the Tourism Board.

This year the programme includes a wide number of events, such as: fireworks and musical displays on Saturday nights in Funchal harbour; the III Exposition of Vintage and Classic cars, displayed along the central area of Avenida Arriaga; the XXII Classic Car Rally 2009, a special race where classic cars ride around the island; street entertainment with philharmonic bands and other performances; the traditional popular saints festivities like the “Festa de São João”; the XXX Madeira Festival Music, with several classical music and dance concerts in Funchal city.

Here is the programme of cultural events for June:

4th June
6 p.m - “1st Exhibition of Vintage and Classic Motorbikes” - Infoarte Space of the Tourism Board, until 27th of June

7 p.m - Concert/performance by the Wind Band of the Artistic Education Department (GCEA), in Avenida Arriaga
9:30 p.m - Madeira Music Festival: “Sete Lágrimas”, Santa Clara´s Church

5th June
7 p.m - Concert/performance by the Brass Quintet of the Artistic Education Department (GCEA), in Avenida Arriaga
9:30 p.m - Madeira Music Festival: José Manuel Dapena, at Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre

6th June
5 pm - 10 p.m - Performance by the Funchal Municipal Band in the city centre
10:30 pm - Madeira Fireworks and Musical Display Contest, outside docking area of Funchal Port (20 minutes long)
Italy - Company: Parente Fireworks

9th June
3rd Exhibition of Vintage and Classic Cars - Avenida Arriaga, until 23 June

11th June
9:30p.m - Madeira Music Festival: Avan Yu, Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre

12th June
7 p.m - Concert/ performance by the Clarinet Ensemble of the Artistic Education Department (Gabinete Coordenador de Educação Artística- GCEA), Avenida Arriaga
9:30 p.m - Madeira Music Festival: John Holloway and Marieke Spaans, Colégio Church

13th June
5 p.m to 10 p.m - Performance by Funchal District Band in the city centre
10:30 p.m - Madeira Fireworks and Musical Display Contest, outside docking area of Funchal Port (20 minutes long)
Russia - Company: Pyrotechnic Yards of Peterhof

19th June
St. John´s Altars with celebrations and revelry, until 24th June (Rua da Figueira Preta, Rua da Conceição, Travessa dos Reis, Praça do Carmo and Rua da Cooperativa)
7 p.m - Concert/ performance by the Wind Band of the Artistic Education Department (Gabinete Coordenador de Educação Artística- GCEA), Avenida Arriaga
9:30 p.m - Madeira Music Festival: Concert given by Georgian Ortodox Christian Choir, Colégio Church

20th June
5 p.m to 10 p.m - Performance by Funchal District Band in the city centre
10:30 pm - Madeira Fireworks and Musical Display Contest, outside docking area of Funchal Port (20 minutes long)
Germany - Company: IP Innovative Pyrotechnick GmbH

21st June
9:30 p.m - Madeira Music Festival: Piano Concert given by Moscow Quartet , Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre.

23rd June
St John´s Traditional Parade- 9 p.m - Itinerary: Igreja de São Pedro, Rua das Pretas, Rua da Carreira and Rua de São João

24th to 26th June
22nd Tour of Madeira - Classic Rally 2009
1st Stage - 24th June - Opening Event - from 7 p.m to 10 p.m - Avenida Arriaga (Funchal)
2nd Stage - 25th June - Pico Areeiro - Santana - São Vicente
3rd Stage - 26Th June - Ponta do Pargo - São Vicente

25th June
9:30 p.m - Madeira Music Festival: Michala Petri, presenting “East meets West”, Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre

26th June
7 p.m - Concert/ performance by the Accordion Orchestra of the Artistic Education Department (Gabinete Coordenador de Educação Artística- GCEA), Avenida Arriaga
9:30 p.m - Madeira Music Festival: “Noite de Zarzuelas” by Madeira´s Ballet Company and Madeira´s Classical Orchestra, Madeira Congress Centre ( Auditório do Casino da Madeira).

27th June
5 p.m - 10 p.m - Performance by Funchal Municipal Band in the city centre
10:30 p.m - Closing Madeira Fireworks and Musical Display (not part of the competition), with the Madeira´s Classical Orchestra, performing live from outside docking area of the Port of Funchal (20 minutes long)
Portugal - Company: Macedos Pirotecnia

In April Madeira will be full of activities which are part of the International Year of Astronomy.

From the 20th to the 24th of April 2009 there will be an exhibition entitled "Astronomy Book Week" in the exhibition hall of Madeira University.

On the 24th of April next to the Casa do Areeiro, in Parque Ecológico of Funchal - Achada Grande, just below Pico do Areeiro, there will be a session to observe and count the “Lyrids meteor shower”, using radio and optics. The observation of this phenomenon will not only be with the naked eye, but you will be able to use other more specialized instruments, such as binoculars and telescopes etc.

Source: Madeira Tourism Board Newsletter