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Funchal, Madeira’s capital city, is located on the southern coast where the majority of hotels and tourist facilities concentrate. It is dominated by the 550-metre high mountain where the baroque church of “Nossa Senhora do Monte” dating back to the 18th century stands. An excursion to the mountain is well worth it not only for the astonishing views over the city but also for the “Palacio do Monte” (the palace) surrounded by lavishly green gardens, monumental fountains, ponds and “azulejos” from the 17th century. On the mountains, you can also see the carreiros, men wearing white and a straw hat that push the “carros de cesta” (wicker slides) that used to be the traditional form of transport down the steep narrow streets and today remain as a tourist attraction.
Other interesting sites in Funchal are the Manueline Cathedral dating back to the beginning of the 16th Century, the picturesque market set on two floors where to find a selection of traditional products, the Botanical Garden and Orchids Garden featuring 50000 plants and 3000 varieties of orchids.