Around Madeira

  The Christmas preparations are well underway - and not only in Funchal where the final touches are being made to the traditional Christmas lights. The illuminations in Santa Cruz have already been turned on and the "mega" nativity scene being constructed in Curral das Freiras is due to open on 16th December. It looks like being busy with around 70% of hotel rooms already booked In Funchal, look out for the ice rink next to the cable car terminal and the Christmas Village in the Praça do Município. On the 3rd, 10th and 17th December there are special promotional events in the Mercado dos Lavaradores where also on the 23rd at 8pm the traditional "Market Night" will be celebrated and people make their final Christmas purchases.  On 29th December in the CCIF at 8pm, the Funchal Jazz Orchestra presents "After Christmas Carols" in Big Band style. From 6pm on 31st December, there's a New Year's Eve concert in the Parque de Santa Catarina as a prelude t

The Vespas Club is promoting a series of 4 concerts as part of a Jazz Christmas Festival between 6th and 9th December. On 6th December, Laurent Filipe performs at the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias at 7.30pm. The following day, Ray Gelato & The Giants appear at the Centro de Congressos (also at 7.30pm). Maracangalha appear at the Vespas Club on 8th December at 7.30pm (doors 6.30pm). Roda de Samba, Melro Preto are also at the Vespas Club at midnight on 9th December (doors 11pm). More information on the Vespas Club Facebook page .

The IFCN (Institute for Forests and the Conservation of Nature) has issued a further update to the status of the island's walking routes following the inspection of storm damage. The main change is that PR9 is now again open. There have been several changes in quick succession, so it's worth keeping an eye on the IFCN website for recent updates. The following routes are now open:     PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro     PR 1.1 Vereda da Ilha     PR 1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo     PR 1.3 - Vereda da Encumeada     PR 2 - Vereda do Urzal     PR 3 - Vereda do Burro     PR 3.1 - Caminho real do Monte     PR 5 - Vereda das Funduras     PR 6 - Levada das 25 Fontes     PR 6.1 - Levada do Risco     PR 6.2 - Levada do Alecrim     PR 6.3 - Vereda da Lagoa do Vento     PR 8 - Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço     PR 9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde     PR 10 – Levada do Furado     PR 11 – Vereda dos Balcões     PR 12 - Caminho Real da Encumeada (long-term part-closure for works)     PR 13- Vereda do

Funchal Cathedral hosts occasional free music concerts. The next takes place on Friday, 27th October at noon. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Soprano) and Tetiana Semenova (piano) will present a programme of sacred music. You can keep an eye on the Cathedral's facebook page for further events.

  There's a series of concerts  taking place roughly monthly in four of Funchal's museums: the Cidade do Açúcar Museum , the Henrique e Francisco Franco Museum , the Natural History Museum and Monte Station . The programme can be found here where tickets can also be purchased.  Alternatively, tickets (5 euros) can be purchased from the ticket office at the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias.