Funchal, Oct 03: If you look at the size of Madeira, you can hardly imagine that this island has so much to offer! From many historical monuments, squares and streets in the capital of Funchal to enchanting gardens, picturesque villages, amazing landscapes, impressive volcanic caves, rugged coast lines, beautiful natural beaches and, last but not least, breathtaking views.
There is so much to see that you will soon realize that one visit to Madeira just isn’t enough! Madeira`s almost five-century-old capital is said to have been named `Funchal` because of the abundance of fennel (Funcho) that was growing there.
Funchal is located in an absolutely unique area. The amphitheatre of Funchal city begins at the harbour and rises almost 1200 m high on gentle slopes. This provides a natural shelter and was what once attracted the first settlers.
The best harbour and the best climate combined with an excellent geographical position allowed Funchal to have a rapid population growth. Today Funchal is a very modern city with over 104.000 inhabitants. This does however mean that traffic congestion in the centre can become sometimes quite confusing.
Madeira Island is famous throughout the world for its natural beauty and is often called the `floating garden in the Atlantic`. However, there are also a wide variety of gardens and parks that are carefully maintained and exhibit a vast array of flowers, plants and trees. In the year 2000 Madeira – represented by the city of Funchal – received a gold award for the `European Flowering City 2000`. This prestigious award, which is much sought after by many European cities, has deservedly been presented to one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.
Bureau Report
