Stop To Smell The Flowers In Madeira
The Portuguese island of Madeira is well known the world over for its culinary delights especially its fortified Madeira wines which can be had both as an aperitif or as a wrap up to end a meal. This small island along with its neighboring island of Porto Santo is a popular holiday destination as these two islands, are the only inhabited islands in the archipelago which is classified as a Portuguese autonomous region.
The island of Madeira is also well known for the celebration of various festivals which are held all throughout the year in and around its capital city of Funchal. One such festival is the Madeira Flower Festival (Festival da Flor) which is traditionally held every year on a weekend two weeks after Easter. This year Madeira’s famed Flower Festival will be held over the weekend of the 25th and 26th of April and will ensure that the streets of Funchal will be filled with colorful and fragrant blooms. As these flowers are used to adorn creative and artistic displays and floats. Each year the Flower Festival has a central theme and this year, the theme of the festival which celebrates the arrival of spring will be “O Principezinho” (The Little Prince).
Pre-Festival events
Before the flower festival starts off on the 25th of April, many exhibitions and performances featuring folk music and dance will be held in downtown Funchal from the 22nd to the 24th of April.
Popular events held during the Flower Festival
The Wall of Hope
The festival usually kicks off on the Saturday with the Children’s Parade which features thousands of children who are usually attired in native costumes. The children assemble at the gates of the Municipal Garden and go towards the Municipal Square or Largo the Colégio where they create a beautiful mural of flowers called the Wall of Hope or Muro da Esperança. This Wall of Hope symbolizes the hope of the youngsters for a peaceful and better world. The ceremony is always marked by the release of white doves which are the traditional symbols of peace. After this ceremony there is usually a picnic and entertainment for the children.
Flower Carpets
A regular feature of the Flower Festival are the gorgeous intricate flower carpets that are created for the festival. These floral carpets line the main streets of Funchal namely the Avenida Arriaga and the Largo do Chafariz Square.
Flower Markets
Makeshift flower markets and stalls are erected along Avenida Arriaga for the entire duration of the festival as well.
Flower Show in Largo da Restauração
Another important event of the festival is the flower show which is held at the Largo da Restauração which showcases the unique talents of the flower growers of Madeira. Apart from these flower themed events, there are are also a number of folk dancing and community music and entertainment programs which are held all over the island to celebrate this flower festival.
The Glorious Flower Parade
The Grand Flower Float Parade takes place on Sunday afternoon and features the enthusiastic participation of several groups and more than one thousand participants who ride on floats which are elaborately decorated with flowers which are arranged in various different shapes and patterns. The parade commences from the Praça da Autonomia, and proceeds along the harbor route onto the Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses through the Rua Dias Leite, Rotunda do Infante, Avenida Arriaga, Avenida Zarco, Rua Câmara Pestana after which it finally terminates on the Praça do Município.
For more information and the detailed program of this flower filled celebration do visit the official website of the Madeira Toursim Board.
If you enjoy looking at flowers and are perhaps an avid gardener, then the Flower Festival is the ideal time for you to plan a visit to the beautiful island of Madeira where you can welcome the arrival of spring while enjoying nature’s glorious bounty.
Moreover if you need to plan for accommodation on your trip, you don’t have to look further than these well located hotels in Funchal like the Quinta do Sol Hotel which is located near the verdant Quinta Magnolia Park or the five star CS Madeira Atlantic Resort Sea Spa Hotel which caters to the needs of both business and leisure travelers.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at 12:57 pm and is filed under Europe, Festival. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
March 27th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
looks like an nice event , thank for sharing the informations.
April 7th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I love cooking with Madeira wines! I would love to visit and experience the island someday.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
When I’ve been to Madeira (only 3 days but still) I brought back so much wine I’ve been drinking it for the next 5 months. It was awesome.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Through your post it seem like Madeira is a best place to go. I’ll plan it as my next travel destination. Hopefully I can make it during the festive.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Jessie , I do hope you manage to make to the flower festival in Madeira in the near future.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I never have been in Madeira. I`ll come soon to smell this increadible flowers
December 15th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
It would be so wonderful to attend one of the huge flower festivals. We have some excellent ones in Australia as well and the attendance and creativity from exhibitors proves that the love of fresh flowers will never die. Fresh flower arrangements just bring so much joy and brightness into a room. I pick whatever I can and stick it in anything that holds water.
January 14th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
I really love to see the flower festival and to smell the amazing flowers. for more info