Culture and Economy
  
    In Madeira, the ditch between the rich and poor persons is enough big. You will be able to see very pretty villas forming a contrast to of small rural houses and some time, even, troglodytes (hollowed houses in the rock). The most of the «Quintas» (dwellings of farmers riches persons) are now renovated and augment to honour tourists. More coquettish with a yester-year stamp, they will seduce you particularly if you are accommodated in there.
 
    The architectural style which predominates in the island is a "manuelin style" in reference to the king Manuel 1st. who accessed to the throne in 1495. The most of churches of Madeira island date of this epoch, (purified style with white ornate walls by stones of lava), but in the century XVIII appears the baroque style particularly in religious sites.
 
    Numerous houses, staircases, churches are decorated with «azulejos», smalls squares of ceramics glazed, blue and white representing a stage of the local life, or on which are represented words and historic narrations.
Decorative style «mudejar» arabo-spanish style that you will admire in all Portugal and in all Spain.

 

 
Arts and Crafts:
    Madeira is famous for his embroideries and his tapestries in the whole world. Workrooms and makings have gable on street in numerous places of the island particularly in Funchal. The meticulousness of the work justifies the expensive prices. The goods range is varied (handkerchiefs, sheets, shirtwaists). All embroidered but their making is effected most of the time by local people at home. They would be 10000 in all the island.
Look out: Do you make firm of the articles authenticity. They must have the stamp {IBTAM} Institute of embroideries, Tapestries and Arts and craft of Madeira.

    The basket-making represents one of the most important trade of the island. The «Coffee Relógio» in {Camacha} is the best place to buy it.
 
  
Woollens, Straw-hats , Inlaid-work, ceramics, boaters, local hat with tassels and ear-flaps (still wearing by the workers) and «Brinquinho» (local circular bat, which cymbals are struck together by dolls in traditional costume dancing round a central pole) are other elements who enrich the local craftsmen.
And what would be Madeira without his wine famous in the worldwide and his bread «Bolo of Mel », local gingerbreads without honey. Kind of cake «a little stodgy dish » if you excuse us the expression which can preserve a year.

 

 

 
    The folklore:
By course of law, all the locals who sell flowers in the street must wear the traditional costume, the same being for traditional spectacles. Costume with lively colours, with a red and yellow skirt, a bolero and a cloak. Men are dressed white with a red waist lock. All of them wear a plume hat and traditional «botachas », shoes made of young cow skin, the machete is the local guitar, accordions, drummers and "brinquinho" are musical used instruments.
 
The music and the dance evoke the love and rustic traditions and sad moments of the history of the island. Quick steps in the dance represent the pressing of the grape, nude feet. One of the most stages depicted of the daily work and is also depicted the slaves epoch; Small steps hardly done up the ground represent their chaining and the heat down representing the interdiction to look the master in eyes. 
 
The best Festivals of the island:

 

The carnival in February: Beautiful walked processions with the rhythm of the samba, well evidently less impressive relative to Brazil.
 Floral Festival: In April generally. Beautiful flower-beds of flowers in the town and magnificent processions.
The festival of Atlantic: Pyrotechnic concourse all Saturdays of the month of June in the bay of Funchal.
Vintages: In September, numerous organized feasts in villages and in Funchal
New-year's eve : Universally famous for his flashes of wits on all the island, the most marvellous is organized in the bay of Funchal.
 For the dates retails, please contact the site of the Office centre of Madeira
 (Click on the events to see photographs)
A few supplementary retails :

Madeira: European autonomous region of Portugal. Political party: Social democrat party
Governor: Alberto João Jardim
Minimum wage: 350 euros; Moderate wage of an employee of hotel: 450 euros; Price of a studio in Funchal without charges: 450 euros
Social security: Almost inexistent relative to France. Persons go to public centres of health or to the urgencies of the hospital. Cares are free but you're waiting a long time to be attend. Several privates clinics in the island where only go very rich people
Criminality: lowly 2%
Standard of living: Comparable price with France or the UK in supermarkets and shops; But foot wears and clothes are cheaper . Restaurants and bars are very cheap (an all inclusive menu 12 euros, a coffee 60 cents).
Economy: The tourism, gone on with the agriculture and piscatorial . Little or no industries on the island (electronic components with foreign capitals).
Mentality: European.
The Portuguese attaches many importances to his appearance, to his car, to his house and to his family.
Religion: Catholic (90%) church-goer.
 
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