Press Contacts:

Sue Lowry / Adriena Daunt / Harriet MacPhail

Magellan Public Relations

Tel:� 020 8875 2850

Fax:� 020 8875 2851

Email:� [email protected]

Website:� www.magellan-pr.com

 

 

Twenty Little Known Facts about

The Savoy Resort & Madeira

 

 

1.      Madeira is closer to the coast of Morocco than to Portugal, the country to which Madeira belongs!

 

2.      Madeira�s unique geographical location gives the island a very temperate climate like an eternal Spring, making it an all-the-year-round destination.�

 

3.      Madeira�s �Laurissilva Forests� are recognised as a World Heritage Nature Site.� The �Laurissilva� or forest of lauraceas madeirense is a geological and natural relic from the Tertiary period on the world geological time scale � literally when the earth was being formed.� Around 10,000 years ago, the Laurissilva forests disappeared from the European mainland and Mediterranean basin and Madeira�s forest is considered the largest remnant in the world.� A total of 150 plant species can be found in the forest, most of them endemic to Madeira.� More than 500 endemic invertebrate species also form part of the Laurissilva, including the Madeiran long-toed wood pigeon.

 

4.      The new expansion of Funchal�s Airport is the only construction of its type in the world � the runway is constructed 60 metres above sea-level, on stilts, with a design that allows it to move 1 1/2 metres in any direction in case of earthquakes.� Until this airport was built in 1964, the only transport into the island was by boat or seaplane.

 

5.      Madeira has long been associated with England, probably due to the marriage between Catherine of Braganza and Charles II.� From the 1700s, English families were commonplace and indeed, even today, anyone who is foreign is known as �English�.

 

6.      The entire top floor of the Hotel Savoy offers one of the most spectacular meetings spaces in Madeira if not Europe.� This 331 square metred expanse once housed the Hotel�s restaurant and night club in the 1960�s when huge liners used to decamp at the nearby Harbour and bring their entire inventory to the property en masse � in search of dinner and dancing.�

 

7.      On New Year�s Eve, the Hotel Savoy�s rooftop Champagne Terrace is the place to be to enjoy 35 different firework displays with over 70,000 rockets fired from the harbour, the sea and the natural amphitheathre of Funchal harbour.

 

8.      The Hotel Savoy�s most sought after suite is 517 � usually occupied by Albert Lucky, holder of the Pierre Cardin trademark worldwide.

 

9.      The cake normally known in England as Madeira is known in Madeira as the English cake, traditionally eaten when drinking Madeira wine.� Madeira Cake is a heavier, fruit cake made with molasses, nuts and dried fruit.

 

10.  At Carnival time, (usually the Friday before Shrove Tuesday) the Savoy Resort offers a complimentary fancy dress service for guests at the resort who are invited to join the Carnival festivities.� At the Hotel Savoy�s gala dinner, two of the Carnival�s troops exclusively perform for the resort�s guests.

 

11.  Madeira is extremely popular for sports fishing and is currently the holder of 70% of the world�s largest marlin.� (The fish are generally tagged and released.)

 

12.  The Espada fish (a black eel) can only be caught off the shores of Madeira.� Espada swim at a depth of around 1,500 � 2,000 metres and can only be caught by fisherman at night, using an Octopus bait which is the only other fish that stand the pressure that deep.� To catch the fish, a line is dropped, baited at different intervals, and torches are shone on the surface to attract the fish.� After several hours, the line is brought up and the Espada fish reach the surface dead due to the changes in pressure on coming up to the surface.� Jacques Cousteau was invited in the 1970�s to do a study of the Espada fish but had to abandon his plans due to problems with the depth.

 

13.  The most precious delicacy for Madeirans are Espada eggs � taken from the Espada fish - and very rarely available for public purchase.� Other classic island dishes include cozido � Portuguesa, a rich and substantial meat and vegetable stew with chicken, smoked ham, spicy sausage, bacon, and a variety of vegetables and potatoes and caldeirada, a fish soup with potatoes and onions.�

 

14.  There are four very distinct types of Madeiran wine available � Boal (sweetish, fragrant), Sercial (dry, full-bodied); Verdelho (dryish, a deep straw colour) and full-bodied Malmsey.�

 

15.  The highest vase in the world � according to the Guinness Book of Records in 1992 � lies in Monte�s gardens, in the hills of Madeira.

 

16.  One of the Savoy Resort�s porters � Sidonio Fernandes - is a member of the Walking Club of Madeira and at Christmas and Easter, will take out guests on Levadas walks around the island.� Levadas are man-made irrigation canals which wind their way around the island.

 

17.  The City Ordance of Madeira dictates that all doors and windows are painted in British Racing Green.

 

18.  The Hapsburgs family has a tradition of holding their most special services and weddings at Monte Church.� To this day, they are the only family who can cut through the red tape to be married within a week.

 

19.  Madeiran embroidery is still undertaken by families all around Madeira in their homes and any piece carries a special seal to ensure quality.� Prices are high accordingly and are known as a �once in a lifetime� purchase!

 

20.  Until the tourism boom of recent years, young Madeirans had to leave the island to find their fortune and there are still larger Madeiran communities abroad than live on the island itself.

 

September 2002