Several interesting places in Funchal have their origin in the history of those who lived here, both the Portuguese and the English.These were some of the first people to settle here. To this day, evidence of their presence adorns many parts of the city.
One such place is Calouste Gulbenkian’s Museum (in Madeira) which is a must-see in Funchal. A place that holds a small part of his art collection as well as an impressive library housing 20 000 books (in English!) dedicated to fine arts and sciences from all over the world. This magnificent building of contemporary design and architecture is a work by the same architect who designed the Museum of Modern Art in Lisbon.
The local market in Funchal, Largo do Mercado, is a lively place to be. You might be surprised by the variety of food available for sale or just take a leisurely walk and enjoy what’s on offer. The market has been in existence for over 400 years and has been recently renovated to provide better facilities for the vendors and fresher food to consumers.
Across from Plaza de Madeira, you will find most of famous stores in Madeira such as Cortefiel, C&A and other global brands like Next, Nike etc… So you can really stay in style in Madeira.
In recent years, Funchal has also seen a boom of bars and nightclubs. There is always something happening in Funchal and it seems there is no end to it. So if you are looking for a good time, this is the place to be! There are several local restaurants that cater not only to tourists but to locals as well.
You can do so much without even leaving Madeira, but some people like to get out into the natural beauty of our island all year round. There certainly is ample space for cycling or walking on the beaches as there are many different stretches on which you can enjoy a walk or run.
For those who prefer a cruise, there are several small boats that take you on trips around the most beautiful parts of the island. If you are looking for something that involves horse riding, one of the best places to go is the Quinta do Fajardo.
If you are a thrill seeker, have a look at the sites of the Queluz Prison or see the world’s oldest working railway. You can also visit our internationally acclaimed UNESCO Heritage sites like Funchal’s cathedral and it’s beautiful gardens called ‘The Botanical Gardens’.
There is a lot to do in Madeira but if you would like to know more about an activity or place to go on your holiday, just ask the locals; they will be more than happy to tell you all they know about Madeira.
If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about How to get to Madeira
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