Mini metropolis in the Atlantic
Funchal is not only the capital of Madeira, but of the entire archipelago and the undisputed center of the islands. The name Funchal is derived from funcho (fennel), which still grows wild in many places on the island.
The city is located on the sunny side of the island on a beautiful hillside and now has around 125.000 inhabitants. Funchal gently rises up the green slopes and offers the most beautiful box seats. João Gonçalves Zarco, the official discoverer of Madeira, made Funchal the capital and brought it to the fore. It became a place for wealthy people and the large landowners usually had a city palace in addition to their country residence. Merchants from home and abroad traded sugar and wine here, rich foreigners came to spend the winter in the mild Madeira climate.
Funchal is still a lively city today. There is heavy traffic and a lot of activity. Funchal has now developed into a holiday city par excellence, with numerous sights, hotels, restaurants, bars and shops.
The hotels stretch for several kilometers along the edge of the cliff and tourism has brought the Funchalens prosperity and fame.
Funchal is one of the oldest holiday destinations for Europeans. The first tourists came to Madeira as early as the middle of the 19th century, preferably the European nobility, to relax here or to cure their illnesses in the healthy air. In 1981, William Reid from Scotland opened the luxury hotel Reid's Palace, which is still rightly famous today. From 1950 onwards, the first middle-class hotels were built for normal-income guests.
Today around 500.000 tourists arrive annually, two thirds of them come to Funchal. In addition, there are countless cruise ships that stop in Madeira on their way to Africa or America so that travelers can stroll through the capital, take photos and shop.
And this is nice at any time of the year, as Funchal can fulfill all holiday dreams at any time thanks to its splendor. From hibiscus to oleander to snow-white jasmine - the city always looks different, but always freshly decorated. They even overgrow the building sins: wild bougainvilleas hide the dreary concrete beds of the three rivers in the center of the city. Not to forget the Advent season, when thousands of colored lights make the city shine at night.
Many sights crowd around Praça do Município, the town hall square: the town hall (Câmara Municipal), the Jesuit college with its lavishly designed college church (Igreja do Colégio), the museum for ecclesiastical art in the old bishop's palace, many shopping streets, where you can also visit the There are shops selling the valuable Madeira embroidery, as well as numerous street cafes and bars where both locals and tourists meet. In the center of the city center is the Sé Cathedral, built as a bishop's church at the end of the 15th century. Be sure to go inside and check out the gorgeous Mudejar-style cedar ceiling.
Everywhere you will find streets with artfully arranged pavement motifs and neat houses, some decorated with the old azulejos pictures, the typical Portuguese tile cladding.
Of course there are also various museums, for example the museum for contemporary art, the city museum or museums about the famous Madeira wine. The Madeira Wine Company is located in an old monastery near the city garden, for example. There is a guided tour through the wine cellars and the museum, during which you will learn a lot of interesting facts about the production and history of Madeira wine.
Funchal is also known for its wonderful gardens: in the city center is the city garden (Jardim Municipal) with many giant trees and enchanting flowers. In the hotel district you can visit the beautifully landscaped Santa Catarina Park with the chapel of the same name, built by Constança de Almeida, the wife of João Gonçalves Zarco. In the outer district of Funchal there is the Botanical Garden and Blandy's Garden. Both are well worth a visit.
You shouldn't forget the harbor with the long pier and the marina when visiting Funchal. The old Beatles yacht, which has been converted into a restaurant, is located on the quay. The Avenida do Mar is the beautiful promenade, where you will also find Madeira's oldest fortress, the Fortaleza de São Lourenço. The south facade facing the sea dates from the 18th century.
In addition to the well-known sights, there are also one or the other shopping street, where it is particularly worthwhile to go on a stroll and shopping tour, or one or the other charming restaurant that invites you to take a break. Ask your tour guide, they will be happy to give you your own personal tips.
