Ponta do Sol, Island of Madeira, Portugal (© Mikael Svensson/Johner/plainpicture)

【June 10 2015】Before the Portuguese made it further across the Atlantic to the Americas, in 1420 they colonized the three islands comprising the Madeira archipelago, about 600 miles southwest of the Portuguese coast. It wasn’t long before the Madeira islands became a vital part of the trade route to the New World. Villages on the islands, such as Ponta do Sol (“sun point”), became busy shipping ports.Explore breathtaking Gallery from the HuluTrip homepage over the past 5 years..