Madeira's capital is the most populous settlement outside the Portuguese mainland and is home to 115, 000 souls. The town resembles an amphitheatre and sits within an ancient caldera. The slopes that encompass Funchal rise to a staggering height of 1,200 metres (3,936ft). Traditional toboggans are skillfully piloted down from the highest districts by the infamous "carreiros". The sea views from the meandering streets that descend the mountainside are magnificent. For centuries they have captivated visitors from all around the world. The town was given its name by João Goncalves Zarco, who arrived here in 1420 and marvelled at the profusion of fennel (funcho in Portuguese).
Funchal enjoys a year-round subtropical climate. The streets are awash with the vibrant colours of pink bougainvillaea, purple jacaranda and red-shaded trees. Madeira has a charming old town with the Cathedral, built by King Manuel I, as its centrepiece. The town squares play host to markets selling local produce and flowers to the delight of locals and visitors alike. Funchal has maintained much of its original charm despite the influx of modern hotels and commercialisation and has attractions for all types of visitors.
| Funchal Cathedral (Sé)
| Funchal Cathedral Interior
The Cathedral has stood in the heart of Funchal since the early 16th century on the very spot specified by Dom Manuel I (1495–1521). The king's coat of arms sits above the Gothic doorway in the West Portal. The rose window above the crown is hewn from the distinctive local red basalt. The cathedral was designed by Pêro Anes. Construction began in 1493 when upon its consecration in 1514, Funchal was officially awarded city status.
The building's somewhat bland exterior is deceptive. The interior is adorned with statues, paintings and gold-gilded chapels. Look up to enjoy the dazzling sight of the Islamic-inspired geometric knotwork design carved into the ceiling. The craftsmen utilised Madeira’s native white cedar trees to full effect and the ceiling remains one of the finest examples of Mudejar décor in the Portuguese world. The fine detailing of the ceiling is beautifully illuminated by light pouring in through the transept windows.
The vestibule is paved with well-trodden tomb slabs made from black basalt. A plaque on the wall records the visit of Pope John Paul II on 12th May 1991. Close by on the left is a huge 16th-Century font. Marble floor memorials found in the Nave and South Aisle pay tribute to early bishops and sugar merchants. Madeira’s trading connections with Antwerp are recollected in the west of the first chapel in the form of a distinctive 16th-century brass memorial created in the Flemish style.
Blue-and-gold choir stalls in the Sanctuary depict saints, the Apostles and prophets and are attributed to the Flemish sculptor Olivier de Gand, the bold and date from 1511. They sit beneath a guilted ceiling adorned with nautical motifs and a carving of an armillary sphere. The grand Altarpiece dates from the 16th century. Inlaid within its ornate Gothic frames are twelve scenes from the lives of Christ and the Virgin.
Daily: 07h30 – 12h00/16h00 – 19h00
Rua Do Aljube, 9000-067, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | 32° 38' 52.7" N | 16° 54' 31.4" W
+351 291 228 155
Funchal's Town Hall was originally built in 1758 as the residence of the Count of Carvalhal. This historic palace is of great architectural significance and, despite changing hands many times, it retains its original appearance. The building sits at the head of the Praça do Município square. It's open to the public and you're able to enjoy its fine 18th-century architecture and its wonderful interior courtyard garden. In the centre of the garden, there's a fountain decorated with a marble statue called “Leda and the Swan”, created by Germano José Salles. It was acquired in 1883 by the City Council and still used as the City Hall of Funchal. Tours are held on weekdays at 11h00, with a duration of 60 minutes and are conducted in various languages.
Monday – Friday: 11h00, Weekends & Holidays: CLOSED
Praça do Município, 9004-512, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | 32° 38' 59.4" N | 16° 54' 30.8" W
+351 291 705 060 (Guided Tours)
visit@aauma.pt | Website
| Funchal City Hall
| Ageing barrels at the Blandys Wine Lodge
Formerly known as Adegas de São Francisco cellars, the Blandy's Wine Lodge gives visitors an insightful introduction to this world-renowned wine producer. The building was part of a 17th-century Franciscan
friary and has oodles of old worldly charm. The Blandy family aquired the premises in 1840 and it has been used for making Madeira wine ever since. Marvel at the 18th-century wine press carved with a Jesuit symbol of a cross inside a triangle located in the courtyard. The Jesuits ran the island’s wine trade before English and Scottish merchants took charge in the late 18th century. Enormous timbers support three storeys of ventilated attics where 800,000 litres of wine sit ageing in oak casks. The barrels are warmed by the sun, a process known as “Canteiro”.
Discover the history of this world-famous tipple at the Wine Museum at the heart of the lodge. In the Vintage room, rare and precious bottled wines are stored behind bars and arranged by date. Try Madeira wine for yourself at the Max Romer Tasting Bar or buy a bottle from the shop, a former cooper’s yard, that stocks a huge range of vintages. There are an array of places on Madeira that offer wine tastings, but none will give you such a detailed understanding of the history of this unique product.
Monday – Friday: 10h00 – 18h30, Saturday: 10h00 – 13h00, Sunday & Holidays: CLOSED
Av. Arriaga 28, 9000-064 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | 32° 38' 52.0" N | 16° 54' 38.1" W
+351 291 228 978
pubrel@madeirawinecompany.com | Website
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Nam a turpis eget turpis vulputate semper sed ac tortor. Nunc egestas sem quis tortor tempor molestie. Suspendisse varius nunc eget eros lacinia fringilla at eget lectus. Aliquam elementum, odio sit amet finibus gravida, mauris ex semper tortor, in viverra turpis tellus at orci. Nullam id leo non tortor accumsan malesuada a in orci. Duis ex augue, viverra eget laoreet sit amet, rutrum eget ipsum. Nulla eget mauris ut nisl bibendum tincidunt vel vitae ligula. Curabitur lectus risus, placerat eget est ac, feugiat elementum mi. Nam blandit gravida purus, sit amet fringilla tortor varius ac. Aliquam luctus vulputate tortor, in bibendum odio mollis id. Nulla iaculis auctor purus ac auctor. Quisque a mi molestie, vulputate leo quis, tristique enim.
Monday: 18h00 – 23h30, Tuesday – Saturday: 12h00 – 23h30, Sunday: 18h00 – 23h00 |
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+351 282 457 077 | xxxxxxxxxx | Website
Nam a turpis eget turpis vulputate semper sed ac tortor. Nunc egestas sem quis tortor tempor molestie. Suspendisse varius nunc eget eros lacinia fringilla at eget lectus. Aliquam elementum, odio sit amet finibus gravida, mauris ex semper tortor, in viverra turpis tellus at orci. Nullam id leo non tortor accumsan malesuada a in orci. Duis ex augue, viverra eget laoreet sit amet, rutrum eget ipsum. Nulla eget mauris ut nisl bibendum tincidunt vel vitae ligula. Curabitur lectus risus, placerat eget est ac, feugiat elementum mi. Nam blandit gravida purus, sit amet fringilla tortor varius ac. Aliquam luctus vulputate tortor, in bibendum odio mollis id. Nulla iaculis auctor purus ac auctor. Quisque a mi molestie, vulputate leo quis, tristique enim.
Monday: 18h00 – 23h30, Tuesday – Saturday: 12h00 – 23h30, Sunday: 18h00 – 23h00 |
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xxº xx" xx.x' N | 0xxº xx" xx.x' W
+351 282 457 077 | xxxxxxxxxx | Website
Nam a turpis eget turpis vulputate semper sed ac tortor. Nunc egestas sem quis tortor tempor molestie. Suspendisse varius nunc eget eros lacinia fringilla at eget lectus. Aliquam elementum, odio sit amet finibus gravida, mauris ex semper tortor, in viverra turpis tellus at orci. Nullam id leo non tortor accumsan malesuada a in orci. Duis ex augue, viverra eget laoreet sit amet, rutrum eget ipsum. Nulla eget mauris ut nisl bibendum tincidunt vel vitae ligula. Curabitur lectus risus, placerat eget est ac, feugiat elementum mi. Nam blandit gravida purus, sit amet fringilla tortor varius ac. Aliquam luctus vulputate tortor, in bibendum odio mollis id. Nulla iaculis auctor purus ac auctor. Quisque a mi molestie, vulputate leo quis, tristique enim.
Monday: 18h00 – 23h30, Tuesday – Saturday: 12h00 – 23h30, Sunday: 18h00 – 23h00 |
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xxº xx" xx.x' N | 0xxº xx" xx.x' W
+351 282 457 077 | xxxxxxxxxx | Website
Only 67km (41.6 miles) west of Faro Airport
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Get on A22 from N125-10, IC4 and N125-4, follow A22 to EM531-1 in Alvor. Take exit 4 from A22. GET A GREAT DEAL ON CAR HIRE:
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| Alvor doesn't have it's own train station, alight at Portimão and then take the bus to Alvor. Regional train services (comboios regionais) run from Lagos in the west to Vila Real de Santo António on Portugal's eastern border: • Lagos - Vila Real de Santo António line: Timetable | Website |
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| • Eva Transportes run services across the Algarve linking the main resorts and towns, as well as a hostess service to Lisbon. Also worth considering are their tourist passes if you're planing to visit different places: Website |
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