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MADEIRA ISLAND
General Info: |
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Location: Atlantic Ocean
Size: 794 Km²
Geographic coordinates: 32° 46' N, 17° 0' W
Madeira island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, southwest of continental Portugal. It is a European autonomous region of Portugal, made up of the island of Madeira, Porto Santo, the Desertas and Selvagens (Wild Islets), the last are uninhabited.
 
Madeira has an all year round mild climate where temperatures rarely go bellow 16°C, here plants and flowers strive, most of these are endemic to the island and it's Laurissilva forest, a world heritage.
The summit of the highest volcanic mountain peek 'Pico Ruivo' which rises to an altitude of 1.861m (6,105 ft) above sea level. Cabo Girão, is one of the world's highest ocean cliffs 589m (1,933 ft) above sea level.
Madeira island is a place of breathtaking valleys, splashed with flowers and painted Atlantic Ocean blue.
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USEFUL LOCAL PHONE NUMBERS: |
Madeira Area Code - The country code for Portugal is 351; the area code for Madeira is 291.
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) - Most ATMs (available 24 hr. a day) are found in Funchal. But there are also some ATMs in towns throughout the island.
Business Hours Shops - Shops are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 3 to 7pm, and Saturday 9am to 1pm. They're closed Sunday. Municipal buildings are open Monday to Friday 9am to 12:30pm and 2 to 5:30pm.
All banks are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3pm.
Consulates & Embassies
United States: - Rua Alfãndega 10 (Tel. 291-235636), off Avenida do Infante, Funchal.
United Kingdom:
Avenida Zarco 2, second floor, Funchal (Tel. 291-212860)
E-mail: brit.confunchal@mail.EUnet.pt )
Web: http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1053700030207
South Africa:
Largo Antonio Nobre, Madeira Carlton Hotel, Funchal (Tel. 291-223521)
E-mail: embsa@embaixada-africadosul.pt )
Brazil: Rua Ponte S. Lazaro nr. 7, first floor, Funchal (Tel. 291-227250)
Venezuela: Rua Aljube nr. 7, second floor, Funchal (Tel. 291-226107)
Holand: Rua Leichlingen nr.5, Funchal (Tel. 291-703803)
Australia: (in Lisbon, Portugal)
Web: http://www.portugal.embassy.gov.au/lbon/LawFunchal.html
Drugstores / Chemists - Drugstores (chemists) are open Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 3 to 9pm. The rotation emergency, night service, and Sunday schedules are posted on the door of all drugstores.
Emergencies
Call tel. 112 for a general emergency,
tel. 291-222022 for the police,
tel. 291-741115 for the Red Cross, and
tel. 291-705600 for a hospital emergency.
Hospital -- The island's largest hospital is the Hospital Distrital do Funchal, Cruz de Carvalho (tel. 291-705600).
Lost Property - Check at the island's main police station on Rua João de Deus in Funchal (tel. 291-222022).
Newspapers/Magazines - The island stocks a good selection of such English-language publications as Newsweek, Time, and the International Herald Tribune, as well as periodicals in French, German, and Spanish. Especially useful is a locally produced English-language publication, the Madeira Island Bulletin, distributed free at the tourist office and in many of the island's more visible hotels, which features descriptions of island activities and lists special events.
Police - Dial tel. 291-222022.
Post Office - There are several postoffices around the Island. The main Post Office in Funchal is the Zarco Post Office, Avenida Zarco 5-7, 9000-069 (tel. 291-202831), near the tourist office. From here, you can also place long-distance phone calls (without steep hotel surcharges) and send telegrams, faxes, and telexes. The office is open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 8pm, and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
Other post offices offering the same services are Calouste Gulbenkian, Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian (open Mon-Fri 9am-6:30pm), near the Monument of the Infante Dom Henríque; Monumental, on Estrada Monumental, near the Lido swimming pool (Mon-Fri 8:30am-7pm); and Mercado, Rua do Arcipreste, near the Municipal Market (Mon-Fri 8:30am-6:30pm). Signs in the center of Funchal that read CORREIOS point the way to the nearest post office, or look for mailboxes on the street.
Safety - In terms of crime statistics, Madeira is safer than mainland Portugal, especially Lisbon. However, as in any area that attracts tourists, there is a criminal element that preys on visitors. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are the major villains. Protect your valuables, as you would at any resort.
Taxes - Madeira imposes no special taxes other than the value-added tax (VAT) on all goods and services purchased in Portugal.
FINDING EMPLOYMENT IN MADEIRA:
PORTUGUESE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE:
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Here you can find information in English about: IEFP - Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional (Employment and Vocational Training Institute) - facts and historical background |
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Working and recruiting in Portugal |
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Vocational Qualifications, Skills Recognition and Certification in Portugal - National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications (NRP Portugal) |
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Main services and active labour market programmes provided by IEFP in Portugal
For Jobseekers (Employment, Vocational Training and Certification |
 
CITIZENS SIGNPOST SERVICE
The Citizens Signpost Service can help when you go to another EU country and need advice on issues like: entry procedures and rights of residence, obtaining your pension, benefiting from medical care or social security cover, car registration and driving licence, etc.
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BANKS IN MADEIRA:
Barclays Bank
Millennium Bank
BES Bank
BPI Bank
APPLYING FOR MORTGAGES: UCI - Mortgage Company
ENGLISH-SPEAKING LAWYERS: Simmons & Simmons
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