Porto SantoMadeira's sister island, Porto Santo, lies 24 miles (39km)
northeast of its larger sibling and was actually discovered before
Madeira itself. In 1418 Portuguese mariners Joao Goncalves Zarco
and Tristao Vaz Teixeira stumbled across it while running from a
storm. Unlike Madeira, Porto Santo is rather bleak and barren, but
its southern coast is bordered by a lovely five-mile (eight km)
stretch of beach fringed with soft golden sand, which, together
with its temperate climate, has turned it into a popular holiday
resort. The main town on the island is Vila Baleira, which was
visited by Christopher Columbus. There is a scenic park in the
town, some cafes and pretty cobblestone streets lined with stucco
houses.
Transportation: Several regular daily flights to and from Madeira, or
ferry from Funchal harbour |
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