Visiting BAM – Madeira Banana Museum is an experience for the body and soul. This space seduces not only with its historical knowledge about the island's most iconic fruit, but also with its art, technological innovation and ability to engage all the senses.
Holograms, photographs and interactive exhibition resources capture the visitor's attention at all times. Right at the entrance, we are invited to immerse ourselves in the world of bananas, not only as food, but as a cultural and economic symbol of Madeira.
Marco Gonçalves, Director of Marketing and Communication, says that ‘the Madeira Banana Museum was considered the most interactive in Portugal in 2023’. He adds: ‘Our goal was to arouse the curiosity of visitors. We have immersive rooms, all our content is available in four languages, and we wanted to offer something different. That was our concern.’
Located on the west coast of Madeira, in Lugar de Baixo, in the municipality of Ponta do Sol, the BAM tells the story and the most unusual facts about this fruit, which, in addition to being part of the Madeiran landscape, played a vital role in its agricultural and economic development.
The banana, introduced to Madeira in the 16th century, is now one of the region's most important agricultural products, with a direct impact on the livelihoods of many families.
It is not known for certain when this crop began, but the first record of bananas in Madeira dates back to 1552. From the 17th century onwards, the fame of this small, sweet fruit spread throughout Europe, thanks to foreign visitors.
History tells us that Empress Sissi of Austria loved Madeira bananas. There is even an episode – the veracity of which is unknown – according to which the Austrian empress went, without her security guard, to the Felisberta pastry shop in 1893, just to eat this fruit, known for improving mood and helping concentration. Empress Sissi's appetite for Madeira bananas, among other curious facts, can be discovered at the Banana Museum, carefully orchestrated to ensure a sensory experience.
With immersive and artistic installations, we learn about the cultivation process of this fruit in an interactive way. For example, while watching an explanatory video, we are sprayed with water and, at other times, a red light simulates the heat of the tropics. The viewer experiences the various stages that the banana goes through before reaching our palate.
The museum space is divided into themed areas that address history, botany, economic impacts, benefits to human health and even challenges for the future.
Marco Gonçalves points out that, since the beginning of 2025, more than 27,000 people have visited the space. Although Madeirans are not the most obvious audience, admission is free on the last Saturday of each month. Producers always have free admission, as this museum aims to pay tribute to those who dedicate themselves to the cultivation of bananas.
Visitors from Poland, the Czech Republic and Finland are great enthusiasts of BAM, according to Marco Gonçalves, because it is something ‘so different from what they are used to seeing’. Even so, it is the English and Germans who dominate visits to the museum, where it is possible to learn about the 18 varieties of bananas in Madeira.
‘We have experimental fields, innovative bunch transport systems, greenhouses, and also leisure areas where you can have picnics. Basically, we recreate what it's like to have bananas, just like a Madeiran producer does.’
To end the visit, there is nothing like stopping by the café and sampling, among the various delicacies, a warm banana custard tart, a queijada (cheese pastry), or even some crispy chips that go well with a beer with this aroma.
