Funchal Is Simple Sophisication
Not many places on earth get the opportunity to be discovered
twice, but the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo have. These
two islands together with Las Desertas and Las Selvagens islands
make up what is called the Archipelago of Madeira. They are
found 1000 kilometers southwest of Lisbon, Portugal and half
that distance from the African continent. Since their discovery
around 1419 and founded in 1425 by Joao Goncalves Zarco, little
was known about these islands but in the last decade have
quickly become the major tourist attractions in the Atlantic
Ocean. Joao Goncalves, with a special permission from the
Portuguese government, used prisioners from the prisions and
enticed settlers from the poorest regiones like El Algarve to
colonize Madeira. The airport on Madeira in the town of Santa
Cruz on the east side is just an hour flight from Lisbon and
also serves the other island of Porto Santo with smaller planes.
This archipelago is really something special to enjoy.
Funchal was named the capital of Madeira in 1425 and is located
on the south side. Under the rule of Joao Goncalves, Funchal
prospered into being a very important sugar cane producer and by
the year 1508, it changed its position from town to city and
sugar canes were carved onto the coats of arms as its main
symbol. Being as ocean travel was becoming more popular,
especially among the greedy and pirates, Funchal was attacked
and robbed. This fact made this enticing stopover react and
built its city in a semi-circular way so that all the building
would be looking and watching the sea. Even today there are
houses and buildings that face the waterfront ' just to keep on
eye on things'. Animated Funchal All year Round Whatever season
you decide on, you will be guaranteed a warm, mild climate with
temperatures between 17 to 26 degrees. One would think that the
busiest season for tourism would late spring to early fall, but
Christmas is actually one of the hottest and most lively times
on these paradisiac islands. With visitors from the colder
countries and very much into the Christmas spirit, Madeira
dresses its port streets with the best lighting decorations and
the most colourful fireworks on New Year's Eve. July and August
are usually very muggy and with the highest humidity and
temperatures, but quite welcomed after a long cold winter.
The city of Funchal is chock full of history and architecture as
you visit churches going back to the 17th century as is the
Church of Colegio Sao Joao Evangelist or the Se which is
cathedral in Portuguese. Being as Madeira means wood in
Portuguese, the inside of the cathedral is done up in marble and
cedar wood. One of the most impressive buildings is called Pacos
do Concelho ( 18th c. ) with black volcanic stone counteracting
with the white front facing and doorways. There are museums
dedicated to religious art, the Museum of Natural History housed
in the Palace of Sao Pedro where you can get a closer look at
the marine life of these islands and a museum which holds many
pieces left behind by all the different cultures that frequented
the islands like Chinese porcelain and figures carved from the
ivory tusks from the captured whales. Around this museum there
are also interesting pieces of art accompanied by the aroma of
fresh orquids.
Bon Appetite in Funchal But man does not live on beauty alone
and therefore must feed its physical spirit too. Tunafish and
codfish are main dishes done in so many different ways: baked,
fried, stewed with home-grown green beans and potatoes. Tropical
fruits are abundant such as maracuyas, mangos and bananas to
mention a few. And of course, the famous Madeira wine. And in
order to sleep well, there are luxurious hotels or simple rural
homes on the hillsides so that everyone can feel as though they
are at home, amongst a paradise of lush green vegetation in the
city of Funchal on Madeira, Portugal.