Although it is best known for nature, the truth is that Madeira is rich in history and traditions. Before the official discovery of the archipelago, it is believed that navigators had already been there. In 1419, Tristão Vaz Teixeira, Bartolomeu Perestrelo and João Gonçalves Zarco claimed Madeira for Portugal. They found it by chance, following a storm that diverted them from the route.