Fans call Madeira the ultimate Treasure Island, a volcanic but verdant ‘floating garden’ carved by warm winds and set amid the wild waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This little piece of Portugal rises up 300 miles off the coast of North Africa and it’s back on Britain’s quarantine-free travel list after a summer on the coronavirus naughty step. Better still, new direct flights make it the perfect place for culture, nature and late-season sun. Culture comes courtesy of the island’s rich trading history. After making their first fortunes with timber, farmers in Madeira discovered the ‘white gold’ of sugar some 500 years ago. Profits paid for palatial homes furnished with works by Europe’s finest artists. Treasures are on display in the Sacred Art Museum in the main city of Funchal. Expect to see some of the world’s largest pieces of Flemish art, proving big was beautiful for Madeira’s first wave of art collectors.