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Funchal (Portuguese pronunciation: [fũˈʃal] ⓘ) is the capital, largest city and the municipal seat of Portugal 's Autonomous Region of Madeira, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. The city has a population of 105,795, [ 1 ] making it the sixth largest city in Portugal.
Funchal is the capital of Madeira, a European city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and a close relationship with Nature. Discover its history, culture, cuisine, events, activities and attractions in this official tourism board website.
- Quinta Do Palheiro Ferreiro
- Funchal Cathedral
- Monte Cable Car
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden
- Rua Santa Maria
- Igreja Do Monte
- Wicker Toboggan Ride
- Madeira Botanical Garden
- Santa Clara Convent
- Madeira Film Experience
One of many benefits of Madeira’s constant spring-like weather is that gardens like this one can be in bloom whenever you visit. The outstanding Palheiro Gardens are found in a British colonial-style estate around a private house, and have been planted with some 3,000 species from all corners of the planet. Among the many flowerbeds and sculpted he...
In the city’s cathedral you’ll be stepping back to the Portuguese Age of Discovery. This building was constructed at the dawn of the 16th century using multi-toned pyroclastic rock quarried from the cliffs at Cabo Girão to the southwest. If you gaze up at the steeple’s roof you’ll see that it’s clad with classic glazed tiles. Manuel I, the Portugue...
One of those unavoidable attractions in Funchal is the cable car that hoists you up to the perched Monte neighbourhood 600 metres above sea level. This gondola lift started running in 2000 and replaced the long-defunct railway, which ran four kilometres up the slope and shut down in 1943. As well as getting to the sights in Monte your motive for ta...
Winding through seven hectares of terraces is another botanic garden, where exotic plants are accompanied by waterfalls architectural flourishes like a Japanese pagoda. Your path through the gardens is decorated by stunning azulejos produced in the 15th and 16th centuries. And in the Japanese garden there are tile panels recounting the history of t...
East to west through Funchal’s Zona Velha is a lovable cobblestone street along a corridor of houses with painted doors. Rua Santa Maria was one of the first plotted in Funchal and is rooted in the 15th century, and now is a go-to destination for shopping and dining. In 2010 the street was hit by floods, and as part of the regeneration the city sta...
One of the sights at the top is this 18th-century church, on the site of 15th-century hermitage. At the high altar is a statue of Nossa Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of the Moutain), which was in the original hermitage and has been venerated since the first years of settlement on Madeira. Also worth your time is the tomb of Charles I of Austria, who l...
No sooner have you arrived at the upper terminal in Monte you’ll be met by groups of men dressed in boaters and white suits offering to take you back down to Funchal at high speed. Your mode of transport will be unconventional to say the least. You’ll climb onto a kind of wicker sled with greased wooden runners and will be pushed down the Carro de ...
Something to do in Monte is to take a second cable car to the Botanical Garden. This terminal is a short walk from the upper station in Monte and you can buy a combined ticket before you depart from Funchal. This second cable car is also a very picturesque ride through the João Gomes Stream Valley. Like most of Funchal the garden is etched into the...
Another rare peek at Madeira in the 15th century, this convent was established by João Gonçalves da Câmara. He was the second ever captain-major of Funchal, and during his rule the Madeira archipelago came through economic and social development thanks to the sugar trade. The convent testifies to these changes, and goes back to 1492 as a place for ...
Sometimes you just need the facts, and these are what you’ll get at the theatre in the shopping centre, a few metres from the marina. The Madeira Film Experience condenses the archipelago’s volcanic origins and 600 years of human history into a 30-minute movie. The production values are first-rate and aided by paintings, photography and archive foo...
- Visit Funchal Cathedral – Sé. Located in the city center, The Cathedral of Funchal (Sé) is one of the main historic landmarks of Funchal. Built in the beginning of the 16th century, at the peak of the Portuguese explorers’ era, Funchal Cathedral is a symbol of power and prosperity.
- Explore the Old Town of Funchal. Funchal Old Town (Zona Velha) is a nice lively place. Most of the city’s shops and restaurants are located in this area.
- Admire the Street Art of Rua da Santa Maria. Rua da Santa Maria was one of our favorite places in Funchal. It’s a perfect example of how a bit of imagination can bring the city to life.
- Visit Mercado dos Lavradores – Farmer’s Market. The Mercado dos Lavradores is a flower, fruit, vegetable, and fish market in Funchal. A short visit to this colorful bustling market is a must-do in Funchal!
Today, Funchal is known for its gorgeous weather, local wine, and pretty handicrafts. Top spots to visit include the open Worker's Market, Blandy's Wine Lodge, and the Sacred Art Museum with works dating between the 15th and 19th centuries.
Things to Do in Funchal, Portugal: See Tripadvisor's 452,865 traveler reviews and photos of Funchal tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October.
The old lanes, wide 20th-century boulevards and pretty squares of central West Funchal are where you’ll find some of Madeira’s top experiences, its best shopping and most interesting museums.
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