Map of MadeiraPopulation
The population in the archipelago averages 250 000 people, 100 000 of them inhabiting the main town and the Region’s capital, the city of Funchal. The average population density is 306 inhab./km2, although in Funchal the density reaches 1313 inhab./km2, one of the highest population densities in Europe. This high population density poses a major challenge for land management and sustainable development.
The official language is Portuguese, although English and other languages (Spanish, German and Scandinavian) are widely spoken, especially among the tourism-related industry.
With classic varieties and a distinctive taste derived from a unique process, Madeira Wine has become famous, indeed a market leader all over the world. The Madeira Wine harvest is an intense activity and a great festivity, commencing mid-August through October sometimes all the way to November depending on the altitude. Traditionally grapes are hand picked and placed in wicker baskets and then transported to the Lagar (wine making place) where the grapes are first pressed barefoot before a mechanical pressing machine is used. Today it is quite common to still see grape pressing by foot, however it’s mostly done by local farmers who still follow the tradition.
Embroidery
Embroidery is part of Madeira’s history and culture and was originally introduced by the English Phelps family who settled in Madeira in 1784. The fabrics used in the embroidery industry are Linen, Silk, Organdy and Cotton from which tablecloths, dresses, shirts, bed sheets and delicate handkerchiefs are created.
Madeira embroidery factories are located around Funchal but most of the actual embroidery is carried out traditionally, at home by the many women skilled in this practice.
The factories usually supply the materials to the embroiders, then when the embroidery is returned to them, they complete final phase, sale and export all over the world.
Today Madeira’s finest and delicate hand made embroidery is a souvenir sought by many tourists, admired for its beauty and perfection; a treasure that lasts several generations.
Compared to Azore, Madeira has become more developed and attracted more tourists with the development of online websites (http://www.madeira-live.com/index.html) and propose tours for tourists. Around 90 percent of the island’s workforce are employed in the tourism industry. Aside from exporting bananas and their famous wine, tourism is the lifeblood of Madeira. Therefore, during February this year when Madeira was struck with the massive flood and landslide, it caused a great impact on Madeira's economy. I will discuss this issue further in the next few posts.
Another region is the Trás-os-Montes (which literally means 'behind the mountains') is Portugal's most rugged and remote region. Every resonably piece of land here is used for small-scale agriculture. The district of Miranda do Douro, found in a remote region along the Douro river near the Spanish border, is home to Portugal's only officiak minority language known as Mirandés. The people of this region, known as Transmontanos, are staunchly traditional. As this region lacked infrastructure and employment opportunities to achieve development and growth, young people move elsewhere to find work. There are many villages with hardly any young people or children, just old people going about their work in the fields as they have done all their lives.