Mail on Sunday Readers' Deal: Enjoy the flowers of Madeira's Flower Festival with Christine Walkden
Exclusive for Mail on Sunday readers: Enjoy the flowers of the Madeira Flower Festival with Christine Walkden
Rising from the ocean floor 600 miles southwest of Lisbon, Madeira is a subtropical paradise that captures the hearts of all who visit it.
Thanks to its fertile volcanic soil, it is often called the "Floating Garden of the Atlantic ". This charming Portuguese island is a plant lover's paradise, with a huge range of species from purple-flowering jacarandas, orchids and bird-of-paradise plants to its Unesco-listed native laurel forest. It was named Europe's No. 1 Island Destination 2019 at the World Travel Awards.
On this eight-day trip next spring, you'll visit in time to its famous Flower Festival, when the streets of the capital Funchal are filled with the colors and scents of flower floats. There are daily parades and performances as locals celebrate the beauty of their island in bloom.
You'll enjoy the excitement in the company of a very special guest - horticulturist and TV presenter Christine Walkden, who will join you at the festival, give an exclusive talk and spend a day with you visiting some of Madeira's most beautiful gardens.
Funchal, where you'll be staying, is packed with highlights such as its 15th-century cathedral.
You can also discover the delights of the farmer's market, taste the local wine and enjoy a trip to the wonderfully maintained botanical garden in the hills above the city.
Rising from the ocean floor 600 miles southwest of Lisbon, Madeira is a subtropical paradise that captures the hearts of all who visit it.
Thanks to its fertile volcanic soil, it is often called the "Floating Garden of the Atlantic ". This charming Portuguese island is a plant lover's paradise, with a huge range of species from purple-flowering jacarandas, orchids and bird-of-paradise plants to its Unesco-listed native laurel forest. It was named Europe's No. 1 Island Destination 2019 at the World Travel Awards.
On this eight-day trip next spring, you'll visit in time to its famous Flower Festival, when the streets of the capital Funchal are filled with the colors and scents of flower floats. There are daily parades and performances as locals celebrate the beauty of their island in bloom.
You'll enjoy the excitement in the company of a very special guest - horticulturist and TV presenter Christine Walkden, who will join you at the festival, give an exclusive talk and spend a day with you visiting some of Madeira's most beautiful gardens.
Funchal, where you'll be staying, is packed with highlights such as its 15th-century cathedral.
You can also discover the delights of the farmer's market, taste the local wine and enjoy a trip to the wonderfully maintained botanical garden in the hills above the city.
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