The Hidden History of Europe's First Colony

Portugal's first colony, the now-famous island of Madeira, came after a centuries-long battle- not with the island's inhabitants, but with the island itself.

📷 Gear I used to make this video:

Further Reading:

Images:

Maps:

0:00 - Intro
1:37 - Early Settlement
2:54 - Geography
5:26 - Isolation
6:54 - Tourism Rise
9:22 - Conclusion

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[pedrogama-escamafilms]

I'm Portuguese. I've seen many things about Madeira. Even on Portuguese television and this film was one of the best I've seen to date, from the simple message to the cinematography. It's too good. Congratulations and thank you so much for doing this. 💚💛❤

[inesgouveia]

As a Madeirian, I have never thought about how the island is trying to outgrow us, but that is an incredible perspective that perfectly depicts the hardships that some people lived/ still live. The footage was incredible and this video has to be one of my favourites about this beautiful island :)
Fun fact: before the island was discovered, sailors were afraid of the island as they thought this was actually a giant monster that was floating over the ocean. This had to do with the amount of fog created by the threes that made an illusion of a floating beast.

[pedropalito]

If you're thinking of visiting madeira keep in mind:
-Avoid going off paths in the wilderness (you'll probrably fall off a cliff)
-If renting a car, get used to manual driving and clutching (you'll use it alot)
-The airplane is supposed to tip like that when landing ( clap at the landing, everyone does that for some reason)
-Do not do levadas at night or afternoon unless you're absolutely sure what you're doing as there are zones that do not have cell coverage, nor emergency dial capabilities,
-If you're taking a cab/taxi (uber isn't allowed in madeira), keep the gps on and make sure to ask the driver if you're going to the right place (they usually take a slightly longer route to cash more money)
-Do not be afraid to ask for directions or help to locals, most of us (that are under 50 years old) know enough english to explain it to you
- Have fun :)

any other tips be sure to comment below ;)

[Guilherme-ncli]

Do the azores next! The isolation and wilderness you feel on some of the islands is overwhelming. There is also rich history including tough colonization and even piracy

[sergiocecilio]

I'm Portuguese and this short documentary about one of Portugal's most wonderful places is absolutely inspiring. Thank you!

[daveythecowboy]

I’m a 4th gen American, my family is Madeiran, I’ve wanted to go to Madeira for years now. It looks absolutely gorgeous and I’m an avid mountaineer so I hope it would provide a challenge

[Steph_davis]

I had to watch it twice because the first time I couldn't listen to the story, I was too blown away by the cinematography.
And then the story, the history...so interesting. Beautiful work as usual

[diogodinis]

Great video! As a madeiran it's awesome to watch such videos about our special island.

Just a slight correction:
The arquipelago of Madeira consists of: Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, Desertas Islands and Selvagens Islands.

[MannyRataul]

The drone shots, the color grading, and the historical content, just absolutely amazing!

[joenandamalie]

What a beautifully packaged video in every aspect. We've lived on Madeira Island for the last two years and this makes me want to go much deeper into the history of this incredible place. What we see is just the surface of a web of stories that need to be told! Subbed!

[justmyway]

You have quickly became one of my top channels to watch for sure. The quality of your content is hard to find anywhere else. Amazing footage lately man, so so sooo glad I came across your videos and channel when I did. Take care man and again, well done, well freaking done man...

[goncalopereira]

I'm from Madeira, and you did a wonderful job showing the evolution and history of the island. I'm grateful for that!

[BelaMadeira]

Madeiran here. The cinematography and all-round production quality of this “mini documentary” is on another level, well done! 👏🏻

[scott]

As an occasional visitor I've watched Madeira change over the last 30+ years, but never have I been so affected by a video of such quality and thoughtfulness. A wonderful achievement, and so very atmospheric. Thank you for producing a brilliant, cinematic-quality film describing a true gem of an island so perfectly.

[vitordavid]

Great Video, i am portuguese and been to Madeira a few times, saw lots of videos and this is probably the best. Kudus!

[kaiwan]

This video is a true masterpiece! The captivating storytelling and stunning visuals all work together to create an immersive experience.

[tovarishchmartins]

This made me want to go visit Madeira more than the actual turist advertisements. I'm from Portugal. You really did a good job exploring the history of the island, which is becoming more and more easy to miss because of tourism, but it is so interesting and fascinating. Thank you!

[sneakingelephant]

Canadian here, and Madeira was one of my favourite places I’ve ever visited. It’s so peaceful, the locals in the various villages are very welcoming and the air feels fresh everywhere. Also the roads are some of the best roads I’ve ever driven on. The drivers are very accommodating on the road and follow the rules

[Sammy]

The sheer craftsmanship and effort that is put into your videos is simply astonoshing! Nothing quite compares to the amazing way you visually tell these supremely interesting stories Aidin. It truly inspires me to stay curious about our own backyard, and I hope you get as much joy out of what you create as us viewers get from watching your content.

[SyncJr]

Fantastic drone footage. Can’t believe the best video about Madeira is made by a foreigner. Amazing video!