According to legend, the ‘floating garden’ island of Madeira was discovered by an Englishman and his mistress who were shipwrecked here in 1346. In 1419 the Portuguese claimed Madeira and the neighbouring island of Porto Santo in the name of Henry the Navigator. After the marriage between Charles II of England and Catherine of Braganca, a link between England and Madeira was forged that remains unbroken to this day.
