St Martin’s festival in Porto da Cruz

In Madeira, St Martin’s Day in November is when the year’s new wine is first tasted, and villages celebrate it with roast chestnuts, salt cod and music. Porto da Cruz, a wine village tucked under the great rock of Penha d’Águia on the north-east coast, keeps the party going for three nights at Sítio do Serrado.

Saturday is the big night: an open-air mass, local folk and tuna groups, Madeiran singer João Quintino as the main act and fireworks to finish. Sunday turns to wine, with a tasting contest, traditional singing groups and despique, the improvised sung duels Madeirans love.

Good to know

• Friday 13 November: DJ from 21:00 to open the festival.
• Saturday 14 November: outdoor mass at 18:45, groups from 20:00, João Quintino at 23:15, then fireworks.
• Sunday 15 November: wine-tasting contest and folk groups, El Corazón Mariachi from 20:15, Amigos da Música to close.
• Porto da Cruz is about 40 minutes by car from Funchal, through Machico or over the hills past Santo da Serra.