The Laurissilva is Madeira's ancient laurel forest, a subtropical woodland recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a living remnant of vegetation that once covered much of southern Europe millions of years ago, wiped out almost everywhere else by past ice ages.
Origin & Meaning
The name "Laurissilva" combines the Latin words for laurel (laurus) and forest (silva) — literally, "laurel forest." Madeira's Laurissilva covers roughly 20% of the island, concentrated mostly in the humid north and central highlands where rainfall and cloud cover keep the forest thick and green year-round. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 for its unique, largely endemic plant and animal life, much of which exists nowhere else on Earth — including the trocaz pigeon and several endemic plant species found only on this island. The forest also plays a quiet but crucial role in Madeira's water supply: its dense canopy captures moisture directly from passing clouds, a process known as fog interception, which feeds the streams that the island's levada network was later built to carry.
Where to Experience It
Many of the island's famous levada walks pass directly through this ancient woodland, including routes run by Madeira Explorers. The mountain village of Ribeiro Frio sits right in the heart of it, making it a popular starting point for forest walks, and several of Madeira's miradouros open up right at the forest's edge.
Related Terms
The ribeiras (streams) that carve through Madeira's mountains often cut straight through the Laurissilva on their way down to the sea, and the island's levada network was built in part to carry water out of this humid, high-rainfall zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Laurissilva forest?
It's Madeira's ancient laurel forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest surviving areas of this type of subtropical woodland in the world.
Why is the Laurissilva a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
It was listed in 1999 for its exceptional, largely endemic biodiversity — plant and animal species found almost nowhere else, preserved because Madeira's climate sheltered the forest from the ice ages that wiped it out elsewhere in Europe.
Where can I walk through the Laurissilva?
Many levada trails, especially in the island's central and northern highlands around Ribeiro Frio, pass directly through it.
How much of Madeira does the Laurissilva cover?
Roughly 20% of the island, mostly concentrated in the wetter north and central mountain areas.
