Official Language:
Portugese
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Currency:
EUR
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Population:
Approximately 115,000 people call Funchal home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Funchal Madeira: Madeira enjoys a mild, sub-tropical climate with good year-round weather. Most rainfall occurs between October and March. There's almost no precipitation from May through September, the summer cruising months. Washed by the waters of the Gulf Stream, temperatures rarely rise above 73°F/23°C or fall below 61°F/16°C.
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Funchal, the capital of Madeira, is located on sheltered hillsides overlooking a wide bay. This is a busy city with narrow cobbled streets, mosaic pavements and outside cafes, bars, a variety of markets selling local produce. Often described as the "Island of Eternal Spring," it is located off the coast of Morocco. The volcanic soil coupled with the mild climate produces an abundance of multicolored vegetation.
There is a chain of mountains that runs through the middle of the island. The coastlands are a contrast with the main crops such as sugarcane, bananas and grapes flourish on a beautiful green landscape. Terraces of farmland extend into the hills, adding tiers of green beauty to the landscape. Madeira is known for its embroidery and wine. Wicker baskets and furniture also show it's Madeiran craftsmanship.
The island was Madeira, which means "wood" in Portuguese. This was because of the dense tropical and subtropical vegetation that covered the mountains and valleys. Since that time the meaning of Madeira has shifted from "wood" to "wine".
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Attractions |
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Getting Around Madeira,remember that distances are short on Madeira, but you should allow plenty of time to cover them because of the winding roads. By Taxi -- The going taxi rate is about 90€ ($104) per day, but three or four passengers can divide the cost. Always negotiate (many taxi drivers speak English) and agree on the rate in advance. Most taxis are Peugeots or Mercedes, so you'll ride in relative safety and comfort and won't have to worry about navigating the nightmarish roads. If you're in Funchal, you'll usually find a line of taxis across from the tourist office along Avenida Arriaga.
By Car -- Unless you're a skilled driver used to narrow roads, reckless drivers, and hairpin turns, you should not rent a car on the island. If you need to, however, most hotels can make arrangements for car rentals.
You must visit the Funchal Market. At this market you can purchase fish, vegetables, fruits, flowers, and nuts. Local shops sell wicker ware, embroidery, liqueurs, and wine. The art of embroidery was introduced by the English in the 18th century and local artisans took to it in no time. It's now a cottage industry that employs thousands.
The best of Madeira is actually on the outskirts. Take a tour, go biking, or hiking, but remember to be careful on those cliffs. Along the coastline of Madeira you won't see very many sandy beaches but the scenery is nevertheless breathtaking. Just follow the routes of the levadas, old irrigation channels that stretch for miles across the island's hills.
Visit the village of Curral das Freiras. Back in the sixteenth century pirates raided the coasts of Madeira again and again. A group of nuns finally had enough and moved inland and settled in what is today, Madeira. Don't forget to visit a vineyard while you are here. The growing of grapes on the hillside terraces make Madeira's landscape distinctive.
After a cable car ride up to the mountain top town of Monte with spectacular views along the way, you'll have two choices for your return: Conventional or toboggan. This toboggan is different from the regular snow ones. This toboggan is a wicker basket mounted on wooden runners controlled and guided by men using ropes attached to the baskets.
Museu Municipal do Funchal:
The Municipal Museum displays land and aquatic animal life of the archipelago. Specimens include moray eels, eagle rays, scorpion fish, sea cucumbers, sea zephyrs, sharp-nosed puffers, and loggerhead turtles. Also on display are many of the beautifully plumed birds seen around Madeira, although the most interesting exhibit to us is the collection of ferocious-looking stuffed killer sharks, evocative of the film Jaws. Access is by private car or taxi; no buses are allowed. This is a very minor attraction and need not take up much more than 30 minutes of your time.
Museu da Quinta das Cruzes:
This museum is the former residence of João Gonçalves Zarco, who discovered Madeira in 1419. The surrounding park is of botanical interest and contains a noteworthy collection of orchids. The museum houses many fine examples of English furniture and China-trade porcelains brought to Madeira by expatriate Englishmen in the 18th century. You'll see rare Indo-Portuguese cabinets and the unique chests native to Madeira, fashioned from (sugar boxes, dating from the 17th century). Also worth noting is a superb collection of antique Portuguese silver.
Jardim Botânico:
On the road to Camacha, about 4km (2 1/2 miles) from Funchal, this botanical garden is one of the best in Portugal, with faraway views of the bay. Opened by the government in 1960 on the grounds of the old Quinta do Bom Sucesso plantation, the garden includes virtually every tree or plant growing on Madeira. Some of the subtropical plants were imported from around the world, including anthuriums and birds-of-paradise from Africa and South America. A heather tree, discovered near Curral das Freiras, is said to be 10 million years old. The gardens open onto panoramic views of Funchal and its port.
Sé (Cathedral):
The most intriguing of Funchal's churches is the rustic 15th-century Sé, with its Moorish carved cedar ceiling, stone floors, Gothic arches, stained-glass windows, and baroque altars. The cathedral is at the junction of four busy streets in the historic heart of town. Note that open hours are subject to change depending on church activities.
Organized Tours:
If you don't care to venture out on your own, you can take one of the many organized bus tours that cruises through the valleys and along the coast of Madeira. Participants can be picked up at their hotels in Funchal or at the tourist office. Those staying at hotels outside Funchal usually pay a small surcharge to be picked up. For more information, contact the tourist office or Avenida Arriaga 30, 3rd floor (tel. ), in Funchal.
The most popular excursion is Inter Tour's full-day island tour that incorporates virtually every accessible point on Madeira, including the island's remote northwestern tip, Porto Moniz, and the lovely harbor of Câmara de Lobos, a few miles west of Funchal. The full-day tour, offered daily, is 40€ ($46) per person, including lunch.
Inter Tours also offers a less-strenuous half-day volcano-and-toboggan tour, which is 20€ ($23) per person; it departs (picking up passengers at their hotels around Funchal) twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Sunday. Another possibility, usually offered Monday and Wednesday, for 40€ ($46) is visiting the wickerworks at Camacha, where thousands of pieces of locally crafted work, from small baskets to entire groupings of furniture, are on sale. Tuesday through Friday night, there's a dinner featuring fado and folkloric dancing (appropriate for all ages) at the Restaurant Relogio at Camancha and Seta, costing 30€ ($35). It has some very talented local performers, but, of course, like all shows of this nature, it's very touristy and not something that a local would go to. The food is a combination of Portuguese and international cooking.
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More Information |
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An English-speaking staff runs the desk at the Madeira Tourist Office, Avenida Arriaga 18 (tel. 291/21-19-02), in Funchal. It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm. The office distributes maps of the island, and the staff will make suggestions about the best ways to explore the beautiful landscape. They also have information about ferry connections to the neighboring island of Porto Santo
Useful Links About Funchal Madeira:
Fuchal Travel Information
http://portugal-info.net/madeira
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