Madeira Lido Tours

Faial is another small town in Madeira and the name originated after a local tree that is very abundant in this area, called “Myrica Fayanamed”.  It was first colonized around the year of 1519. At the time, the sugar plantation was at its peak and water mills were built in various small rivers, like Ribeira do Faial and Ribeira Seca so that they could crush the sugar cane. Nowadays, when going back to those places you can still see the remains of these water mills under many bridges.

The main industries are still founded in agriculture today. The main fruit that grows around Faial is the Anona”Cherimona” fruit. Every year in the month of March there is a famous event better known as the “Festa da Anona”, one that any avid traveler should definitely experience!

Porto da Cruz is a charming village located on the eastern coast of the island of Madeira. The name originated from when the discoverer fixed a steel cross on the shore to indicate the port for other Portuguese explorers. This port was used much when the early Northern settlers received goods for the communities.

The Main agricultural products found here were sugar canes and today there still operates a factory for the processing of the honey molasses taken from the sugar cane, as it has since 1927. Another well known product from this region is a dry red wine known as ‘vinho seco’. This has become very popular and every year a grape festival is hosted in the town.

Between the areas of Porto da Cruz and Faial there is a place called the Penha d´aguia, meaning “Eagles Rock”. These rock formations are very unique and rise above sea level at an altitude of 580 meters, something fantastic to behold whilst on our Northern Wonders tour.