The Madeira Story Centre Museum is an interactive race through the history of Madeira, from its volcanic creation to the present day, presented in a fun and engaging way. The sound-effects add to the staged scenes and there are interactive activities and games to play along the way.

This is definately worth a visit if you are going to Madeira. It gives you an excellent insight into the history of the island and makes it fun at the same time. You certainly learn what its all about and can go on to enjoy the views and the island with at least some understanding of what you are seeing. Excellent for all ages & nationalities. They also offer group tickets for other attractions. We had a special offer ticket for Blandys the wine making tour and the Story Centre which certainly saved us money. Very enjoyable experience!

The Madeira Story is unfolded on three floors in a cool, tranquil facility just a few metres from the lower cable car station taking visitors up to the Tropical Gardens of Monte Palace.

We visited The Madeira Story on our last full day in Funchal on 31 August, '08. Received wisdom suggests that it's a good visit for Day 1, but we found it a useful way to consolidate knowledge gained about the beautiful island during the previous six days.

The visit starts, appropriately enough, with nature - up on the spacious top floor verandah - where a selection of Madeira's native plants serve to reinforce the link between the island's remarkable natural fertility and the subsequent development of trade and commerce.

The bulk of the story is told on the floor below, through a pleasing selection of tableaux, video footage and simple interactive devices, designed to appeal to all the senses and to more or less any age group. The visitor follows a series of dates engraved into circular plaques on the floor and, along the way, picks up some of the skills required of a good merchant.

You are left with the impression that Madiera has been both durable and adaptable in the face of change and circumstance; that it has provided considerable prosperity for certain incoming entrepreneurs and that its more recent reliance upon tourism has been built on substantial foundations.

Down on the ground floor, an airy cafeteria offers welcome refreshment with the chance for reflection on the fun and challenge recently experienced - if you like, you can sit in an area reproducing the effect of being aboard one of the sea-planes that brought earlier tourists to the island. Then back with the mercantile theme, a gift shop with an interesting selection of merchandise forms a bridge to the Funchal of today, as you step back out into the warmth feeling just a little better informed.

We enjoyed our visit - it gave us an excellent overview of the history of the Island. The displays are very good and well worth the entrance fee - though a couple of Euros less and they'd be packed.