The Spanish ferry company Naviera Armas has confirmed yesterday in official notice that will continue with the ferry line Canaries – Madeira – Portimão. This is thanks to the large success of the service in less than a year time. The ferry company is even planning to introduce a second ship in this line next year and making two weekly trips starting from May.

The maritime line that links the Canaries – Madeira – Portimão will continue after the Summer … announced by the company Naviera Armas in official notice yesterday. The decision has been made because of the great success the line has had … that was started 13th of June this year … having shipped already more than 14 thousand passengers.

One of the most popular religious (folk) festivals of Madeira will take place … the Monte Festival -A Nossa Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of the Mount).

With this festival Funchal commemorates the deliverance of the people from hunger and plague. Celebrations consists of a city fair which lasts through the night, with braziers and all sorts of wonderful Madeirense delicacies to feed the both inhabitants and tourists. There is no need to get up early the next day as it is a national holiday. People head to church to celebrate Mass, which is followed by a procession from the church in which the devout pilgrims of the Senhora do Monte thank their saint for all the blessings they have received over the year.

The Church of Our Lady of the Mount, patron saint of Madeira, is also very popular with pilgrims who come here to pray or fulfill vows by the tomb of Emperor Karl I of Austria. Karl I died in 1922 at Quinta do Monte, now called Quinta Jardins do Imperador or Quinta of the Emperor´s Gardens. It is a lively celebration lasting two days and transforms the romantic, picturesque parish of Monte into one of the busiest places in Madeira, full of food and drink stalls and plenty of music. (source: Turismo da Madeira)