Around Madeira

Madeira's annual Flower Festival begins on the 2nd May with a range of activities for all ages and entertainment and stalls in the Avenida Arriaga. The now famous parade takes place on Sunday May 5th at 4.30pm. If you want a good view from the grandstands, you'll need to pre-book and pay. The Classic Car parade takes place the following week, May 12th, at the same time. The full programme and booking details can be found on the VisitMadeira website . The Flower Festival is one of the highlights of Madeira's tourist calendar and hotel occupancy is at 95%, so it will be well-patronised. If you're hoping to get a glimpse without booking a grandstand seat, you'll need to arrive early and be suitably prepared for being out in the sun for an extended period of time.  Street closures may lead to diversions and public transport is likely to be very busy and subject to alteration.

The national government has extended the contract for the air service from Madeira to Porto Santo until 22nd September.  There has been a succession of contract extensions which have led to problems with booking flights as the various deadlines have approached.  There is as yet no sign of a long-term solution. The ferry service continues as usual.

From 9th to 27th April, the Museu Etnográfico da Madeira in Ribeira Brava will be hosting a free exhibition on emigration from Madeira in the first three quarters of the 20th Century - Madeira and the Winds of Emigration . 85 photographs, some previously unpublished, show the reality of life in Madeira at the time which led to the present Madeiran diaspora. Entry is free and opening times can be found here.

On 12th April, IFCN announced the re-opening of the following walking routes:     PR 15 - Vereda da Ribeira da Janela     PR 16 - Levada Fajã do Rodrigues The routes that remain closed are:     PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro - Vereda Este (via Pico das Torres)     PR 4 - Levada do Barreiro     PR 7 - Levada do Moinho     PR 10 – Levada do Furado     PR 19 - Caminho real do Paul do Mar     PR 20 - Vereda do Jardim do Mar     PR 23 - Levada da Azenha In addition, there are partial closures of routes PR 3 (Vereda do Burro) and PR 12 (Caminho Real da Encumeada). The full list of the current state of walking routes can be found on the  IFCN website. The temporary partial closure of PR 3 is described here . The partial closure of PR 12 for work on the hydroelectric plant continues. These closures are for the safety of visitors and it is an offence to use the routes when they're closed.

Local press are reporting plans to restrict access to Pico do Areeiro by motor vehicles owing to increasing traffic problems and obstructive parking. A recent video showed a dawn traffic jam. The intention is that access beyond the recently-created car park will be restricted to taxis and residents: everyone else will have to complete their journey on foot. The details of the new regulations and their date of introduction have yet to be confirmed.

From April 3rd to September 13th, the Centro de Estudos de História do Atlântico - Alberto Vieira (Funchal) has an exhibition of archival material relating to the history of Madeiran embroidery.  On show will be material from the records of the former manufacturer João Eduardo de Sousa, Lda., which are in the process of conservation, as well as material from four catalogues documenting embroidery and clothing from the latter part of the 19th century through to the 1940s. Centro de Estudos de História do Atlântico - Alberto Vieira is located R. das Mercês 8, Funchal and its listed opening hours are 9.00am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.