There is a large relief map of Madeira when you arrive at Funchal Airport. You will see Funchal on the map and then pinpoint other places you have read about. What the map doesn’t tell you is just how varied the island is and how much it has to offer. Read the article www.thetravelmagazine.net/travel-guide-madeira-top-10.html

1. I
n the 15th Century when the
Portuguese settlers arrived on
Madeira they were struck by
the abundance of fennel (in
Portuguese: funcho) growing
wildlyandsonamedtheirfirstcolony:
Funchal.
This picturesque city has a
horseshoe shaped backdrop of
verdant mountains rich in colourful
subtropical vegetation that look out
onto the Atlantic Ocean.
It has remained the capital of Madeira
for the last five hundred years and
today has its own international
airport and serves as a popular
The Travel Magazine August 2014
destination for several cruise ships.
MUST VISIT
Funchal Market is a busy, noisy,
colourfulcoveredmarketinthecentre
of Funchal. As you enter the market,
you will be enticed by the variety
of fresh fish, tropical fruits, spices,
colourful flowers and local crafts. Get
there early – preferably as it opens at
7am – when the market is buzzing
with fishermen cutting chunks of
tuna on marble slabs, fruit sellers
spreading numerous passion fruit
varieties (such as maracujá banana –
banana passion fruit) on their stalls
and ladies in traditional costumes
preparing flower arrangements using
the local agapanthus and heliconias.
If you are looking for local delicacies
to take home with you, look out for
Madeirawineorbolodemel(Madeira
honey cake).
The narrow, cobbled Rua de Santa
Maria is the oldest street in Funchal,
dating back to 1430. When the heavy
storms in February 2010 severely
damaged the old town, including the
Rua de Santa Maria, the municipality
launched the project Art Open Doors
in order to revitalise the area. They
invited local artists to paint the doors
in the street and the result is a vibrant,
colourful, artistic street, full of shops,
bars and restaurants.
MUST SEE THE VIEW
To get the best view of
Funchal, take the cable
cartotheMonteVillage.
The 15 minute journey
takes you 560 meters
high above the city,
with a 360º panoramic
view of Funchal and
Travel Guide
24 Hours in Funchal
Cable Car
By Martino Matijevic
Despite being over 500
years old and the capital
of Madeira, Funchal is
compact enough to be seen
in a day. Here are some of
the must see and dos.
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2. The Travel Magazine August 2014
the Atlantic Ocean.
Price: €10 one way, €15 return.
Tip: take the cable car up and
toboggan ride (see below) and walk
back down to the city.
Monte Village was built in 1565
as a summer refuge for Funchal’s
aristocracy. Constructed in 1741, the
Church of Our Lady of the Monte
is the resting place of Charles I, the
last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire. If you climb to the bell tower
terrace you’ll get a spectacular view
of Funchal.
MUST DO
From the foot of the Church of Our
Lady of the Monte, you can take a
thrilling two kilometre, 10 minute
“toboggan ride” to Funchal. In the
mid-19th Century this was a fast way
for the rich inhabitants of Monte to
descend to Funchal. The wicker sledg-
es are now used to transport tourists
quickly along the same streets. The
sledges are propelled by two men in
white clothes, a straw hat and boots
with thick rubber soles.
Price: €25 for one person, €30 for a
couple, €40 for three people.
Tip: Taxis waiting at the bottom of the
ride will charge you 3 or 4 times what
the normal price would be to take you
to Funchal city centre. Instead, take
the bus or walk (it’s a 20 min leisure-
ly downhill
stroll).
MUST EAT
A good choice
for homemade,
traditional food
in Funchal in
a friendly and
relaxed atmos-
phere is Ven-
da da Donna
Maria in Rua
da Santa Maria
street.
For the start-
er, try bolo do
caco, hot bread
with garlic and parsley,
lapas, grilled limpets with
garlic and lemon, or pica-
dos, cubes of beef steak in
sauce served with fries. For
the main dish, go for the
espetada, skewers of beef
rubbed with salt and garlic
and grilled on bay leaves.
Madeira being an island,
fishloverswillnotbedisap-
pointed and should try the
local specialty, swordfish
with fried banana (espada
com banana). Traditional
Madeira desert is the deli-
cious passion fruit mousse
(pudim de maracujá).
Useful Links
For more information on Madeira,
visit madeirarural.com
For a list of activities in and around
Funchal, visit
madeiraoutdoor.com/en
www.thetravelmagazine.net/travel-guide-
24-hours-funchal-madeira.html
Door in Rua de Santa Maria
Toboggan RideAll images © Martino Matijevic
www.thetravelmagazine.net