The Best Places To See When Visiting Funchal City In Madeira

May 23, 2012 sarah Fitness

Madeira Island is a tourist location that most US based travellers only visit for a few hours. This is because most US based visitors to Madeira Island – web link: www.love-madeira.com – have come courtesy of one of the frequent mid-Atlantic exclusive cruise ships. And, the standard is that these liners only dock in port for a few hours before setting out again for the next destination. The shortness of visit is a shame since Madeira has great natural and cultural diversity to offer its guests.

As someone who is engaged in operating Madeira tours (see: http://www.madeiratours.co.uk/), I frequently receive requests to suggest a service that will cover the whole island in just a day. Understandably, many people believe that this is a valid request. After all, if you look at Madeira on a map, you will see that the island is no more than 14 miles across and 33 miles long.

The island has a highway network that makes fast and trouble free travel the norm. Notwithstanding that, touring the whole of Madeira in a day would mean that you would miss the full extent of scenery, noteworthy towns and villages and tourist attractions that we have to offer. Instead, I would suggest that you select a tour that covers just one area or aspect of Madeira.

So, for the tourist with limited time, what is the optimum tour choice?

Well, for people who haven’t visited Madeira before, I would recommend a whistle-stop tour taking in the main attractions of Funchal, the island’s capital. As all cruise ships drop anchor in Funchal harbour, this choice will consists of minimum travelling mileage.

It is always better to be prepared so download your online Madeira map just a click away from www.love-madeira.com/madeira-maps.html.

Funchal and its suburbs have many interesting attractions to visit that will delight most people, no matter what their own personal likes and dislikes. A top 5 selection would certainly hold these choices:

Book a place on the cable car. This will convey you from the Zona Velha in Funchal up to the famous mountainside destination of Monte As you journey steeply upward you will be offered some panoramic views of the Funchal City. You will also gain an aerial view of your cruise liner docked in the harbour – this is the ideal opportunity if you want to take that special souvenir photo of it.

Having arrived at your destination, your first stop should be the church at Monte. This church, much beloved by the locals, occupies the exact spot where the first chapel on island was built. This chapel, if Madeiran legend is dependable, was built to celebrate the first people to be born on the island, twins appropriately called Adam and Eve. Here, you will find the final resting place of the last Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

If you delight in things botanical, then before you leave Monte, ensure you visit the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. These gardens, planted within the confines of land belonging to a now abandoned hotel, have intricate displays of trees, shrubs and flowers from near and far along with a variety of weird and wonderful curios that are scattered about the grounds. A couple of the highlights are the charming Oriental Garden and the assortment of ceramic tiles that features examples from a period range of one hundred and fifty years.

Next, head for the famous Monte Toboggans ride. These toboggans are constructed from chair sized, flimsy, wicker baskets secured to wooden runners. Having seated yourself in position, a couple of skilled steering side-runners will guide your ancient form of transport down the steep hills. Ernest Hemmingway once recorded that the Monte toboggan journey he undertook was the most exhilarating experience of his life. Unfortunately, in this modern age concerned with health and safety, it now takes a form that is not so exciting, but you will still find nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

When you alight from your Monte Toboggan, you will be looking for a bit of relaxation and refreshment. It’s now just about time to head back to the center of Funchal and book your seat at one of large selection of restaurants and cafes that are available.

Overlooking the yacht Marina there are some high quality fish restaurants. Here, you can guarantee that every item on the menu will have been freshly caught that very same morning.

Alternatively, explore the side streets where some traditional cafes offer traditional meals at very reasonable prices. You may soon find yourself sipping an after meal glass of Madeira wine in a converted old wine cellar. Or possibly, sampling the delights of espetada, a traditional beef meal prepared by laying chunks of meat over the flames of an open fire on skewers, whilst listening to the somewhat haunting tunes of traditional Madeiran folk music.

Whatever you choose, I can guarantee that, as your cruise liner sails out into the Atlantic ocean and the mountain tops of Madeira are fading into the distance, you will be exploring the possibility of visiting this lovely Portuguese island once again.