The Museums of Madeira By Jane Wilkinson At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Mário Barbeito de Vasconcelos Library Museum

The story: Long before tourists started taking holidays in Madeira, the island was home to a famous traveller, Christopher Columbus, who would go on to discover one of the largest countries in the world. Columbus came to the island in 1478 to buy some sugar, but a holiday in Madeira soon turned into a permanent stay when he fell in love with the governor’s daughter and moved to the small island of Porto Santo. After a few years Columbus moved back to Madeira’s main island to study navigation, which prepared him for the most famous discovery of all times.
What can I expect to see: The library museum houses a range of Columbus collectables, including rare books and coins. It also focuses on the history of the island from 1419 to the present time of wine production and Madeira package holidays.

Whale Museum

The story: In the 1970’s whaling was a very important industry in Madeira. Whale meat provided one of the island’s main exports up until the time that the practice was banned in 1982. In an interesting turn of events it is the fisherman that built their lives around the whaling industry a mere few decades earlier that are now working hard to preserve these gentle giants of the ocean. Many fishermen have even donated their harpooning instruments to this educational venture.
What can I expect to see: The Whale Museum is definitely worth visiting on your Madeira holidays and the life size model of a blue whale often proves a highlight for both adults and children alike. You can expect to see a range of brutal tools that have been used to harpoon whales, as well as pictures and videos of the cruel sport in action. However, this museum isn’t just blood and gore and there are plenty of interesting facts and arguments on just why preserving the whale is so important.

Madeira Story Museum

The Story: There isn’t just the one story for you in this extensive museum and the entire history of the island features in this chronological journey back in time. You can view interactive displays from the volcanic birth of the island some 14 million years ago, to the times of Napoleon, Churchill and the first hydroplane landing. The Madeira Story Museum doesn’t leave any era untouched and therefore it provides the perfect start to your Madeira holiday.
What can I expect to see: The question should be what can’t you expect to see? And the answer to that would be nothing! Everything is covered from Madeira’s first luxury hotel to the centenary of the pasty.

Madeira Wine Instrument Museum

The Story: Wine has been produced on Madeira since the 15th Century, when Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal was quick to see the advantages of developing Madeira as an island vineyard. The rough sailing boats that were used to transport the wine during this time also helped invent the estufa method of wine production, as wine that was shipped as far away as India often came home in better shape then they had on their first departure during to being churned around in the stifling heat of the sailing boats.
What can I expect to see: If the sweet Madeiran wines were one of the prime reasons for you when booking your Madeira holidays then this museum is perfect for you. You can expect to read all about the history of wine production in Madeira, as well as nostalgic memorabilia and the animal skin casts that were used for the original bottles. There is also a live cooperage as a permanent feature of the museum.

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