Sampling Funchal The Best Of Madeira

Copyright (c) 2011 Robert James

Some think that the only way to see Madeira is to actually stay on the island.  This is definitely not so.

Many cruise line companies have one or more ships that regularly dock in Funchal Harbour.  Unfortunately, these cruise ships usually stay anchored for no more than a day because they all seem to have tight time schedules.

This is a shame since the Island of Madeira has so much to offer.

As a person employed in assisting tourists to Madeira Island, I often receive emails asking me to suggest an itinerary to see everything the island has to offer in five or six hours in total.. That many of visitors to our island believe this would be possible comes as no surprise. Looking at an atlas, you will soon appreciate that the approximate 750 square kilometres of the island is strictly limited by its dimensions which measure just 54 kilometres by 23 kilometres..

It wasn't so long ago that the rugged volcanic terrain meant that taking a journey by car was usually an extremely difficult and slow adventure. Up until a couple of decades ago, the only available route from one end of the island to the other was via narrow mountain hugging roads that twisted and turned. Positively not recommended if you lacked a head for heights or you were prone to getting travel sickness!!

Much to the relief of the local population, nowadays, the island has a motorway network that makes quick and hassle free journeys the norm. Notwithstanding that, travelling the whole of Madeira Island in a just a few hours would mean that you would miss out on the full range of landscapes, noteworthy towns, villages and tourist attractions that there is on offer. Well, for those who have little free time to spare, it would be best to limit your activities to the Funchal area.

Hence, for the visitor with a limited time frame, what is the excursion that offers the most?

Well, for people who haven't visited Madeira before, I would recommend a city jaunt around Funchal, the island's capital. Every cruise ship that visits Madeira will be anchored in Funchal Harbour, so this suggestion helps to eliminate time wasted with excessive travelling.

Funchal and its immediate surrounds has many interesting attractions and places to visit that cater for almost everyone, regardless of their own individual preferences. My select list would include the following:

Get a ticket for the Funchal cable car. As you ride up, passing over the cityscape, you will get some unbelievable views. You will also gain an aerial view of your luxury cruise ship at anchor in the harbor - perfect if you want to snap a special souvenir photo of it.

Upon exiting the cable car, take time to enjoy a cooling drink in the adjacent cafe - the views are spectacular. Now, walk along the roadway (do not be alarmed, there are hardly any cars) to the church at Monte. This church, much beloved by the locals, occupies the very same spot where the first chapel on Madeira was built. This chapel, if Madeiran legend is dependable, was built to celebrate the first children to be born on the island, twins aptly called Adam and Eve. Here, you will discover the tomb of the last Emperor of the Austria-Hungarian Empire.

If you like to wander around formal gardens, then the delightful Monte Palace Tropical Gardens should be just right for you. This tourist attraction is a unfailing favourite, and for good reason. Situated withing the walls of a now disused colonial hotel, Monte Palace Gardens has massed displays of trees, shrubs and flowers from all over the world. To add interest, there is a strange assortment of cultural objects scattered among the plants and an African Craft museum. Keep an eye out for the world's biggest ceramic vase. In particular, look out for the formal Oriental Garden and the collection of ceramic tiles that includes items spanning 150 years of history.

Having sampled the natural beauty of the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, there is one of Monte's attractions still to enjoy. These examples of a primitive form of transport are made from chair sized, flimsy, wicker baskets mounted on wooden runners. Once you have settled yourself on the padded wooden, a couple of skilled steering side-runners will manipulate your unusual type of transport down the sharply descending twisting roads. But, before they push you off, do not forget to ask for a souvenir photo to be taken, your guides will happily oblige. The renowned author, Ernest Hemmingway, once spoke of the Monte toboggan in the following manner: It was the most exhilarating experience of my life. Nowadays, health and safety regulations have enforced stringent new protection measures, so the ride is no longer as exhilarating as it once was. However, you will still be hard pushed to find anything like it anywhere else in the world.

Following all that excitement, you will most likely require a bit of relaxation and refreshment. So, catch a taxi or local bus back to the heart of Funchal city and book your place at one of many restaurants and cafes that are available.

Adjacent to the fashionable Marina, there is a row of highly regarded fresh fish restaurants. All these restaurants guarantee that every item on the menu will have been bought in the nearby fresh fish market earlier that day.

Alternatively, explore the side streets where some traditional cafes list on their menus typical Madeiran meals at very affordable prices. You could find yourself enjoying an after meal glass of Madeira wine in an updated old wine cellar. Or, maybe, relishing the subtleties of espetada, a traditional beef meal prepared by laying chunks of meat over an open fire on skewers, whilst being entertained by a traditional Madeiran folk troupe.

Whatever your choice, I can guarantee that, as your cruise ship sails out into the Atlantic ocean and the mountain tops of Madeira fade into the blur of the horizon, you will be exploring the possibility of visiting this lovely island sanctuary once again.


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The author, Robert James, has considerable knowledge of Funchal which he share on his website.  The cable car is a relatively new feature of Madeira's capital city and it is well worth a ride.  Full details of prices, opening times and journey duration can be found on the Funchal cable car webpage.