Quinta do Furão's stunning setting
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Quinta do Furão
Madeira and Porto Santo › Northern Madeira › Santana
Perched on a cliff-top amidst its own extensive vineyards, this popular country house hotel offers comfortable accommodation and plenty of traditional charm.
- 4-star Hotel with 40 rooms
- Bed & Breakfast or Half Board
- Heated swimming pool (covered in winter)
- Car hire included
Santana encompasses part of the Madeira Natural Park, a protected area of botanical interest. There are gentle walks around the plateau to tempt the less energetic as well as more challenging levada walks and for the truly fit the 6,000 foot Pico Ruivo, the islands highest peak.
This was the first rural area to provide simple lodgings for the travellers of the mid 18th century who were keen to break their journey by foot or horseback. Here they marvelled at the lush vegetation surrounding the high peaks and rugged cliffs framing the wild Atlantic seascapes of the north coast. The landscapes remain the same but can now be enjoyed in classic Madeirense comfort from the Hotel Quinta do Furão, perched on the cliff-top surrounded by acres of its own burgeoning vines.
The main building has a welcoming wood panelled lounge with the vineyard echoed by the tiled friezes on the central pillars and where you can take traditional afternoon tea in comfort or settle down to plan tomorrow's excursion in the library area. It also houses forty stylish rooms, many of which have balconies and stunning views, and three spacious junior suites. Adjoining the main building is the heated swimming pool with a sliding roof designed to allow year round use and below this is a sauna and small gymnasium as well as a spacious games room.
A short walk of about 150 metres alongside the vines brings you to the original house, now converted into a restaurant serving food and wine belying its rustic décor. In the summer months guests, and many Madeirans, choose to dine on the terrace where the view is as mouth watering as the food. Beneath the restaurant is a cosy 'pub' ideal for refreshing returning walkers.
The highlight of the year at Quinta do Furão is the September wine harvest when guests are invited to join in the crushing of the grapes and memorable barbecues are enjoyed around the old wine press accompanied by local music and dancing.