One of the greatest aspects of life in Madeira are its coastal villages. And Ponta do Sol is arguably the most beautiful. Rows of pastel buildings and a glorious pebble beach give the village its unique charm.
Funchal, the capital of the Madeira archipelago, was declared a city in the 1500s, and became an important point between the old and new worlds. The laid-back city owes much of its historical prominence to "white gold," Madeiran sugar. Today Funchal is known for its appealing temperatures, wine and crafts.