City Tour Corners of Funchal for Cruises

In the same way that it happened with the development of the same district of São Pedro, the construction of the church was delayed for a long time due to a multitude of impediments. The order was already given in 1590 and it should have taken about 6 years, but due to the alterations, extensions and improvements that had to be made to the original plans, it came to an end in the middle of the 18th century. The entire complex of the mother church of São Pedro was created from a large church with a single nave, three side chapels and two collateral altars. Glazed tiles from the 17th century cover all the interior walls from floor to ceiling, not only in the nave and choir, but also in the sacristy. Paintings, jewelry and furniture from the 17th to the 20th century complete the interior decoration.

Also known as the Dona Amélia Garden in memory of this Portuguese empress, the Municipal Garden consists of 8,300 m2 of beautiful flowers, plants and trees native to Madeira, as well as other exotic species from the rest of the world. The construction of this garden dates back to 1880, when the first plants came from Paris and Porto.

Known as the Central Plate of the capital, with jacaranda trees and gardens between the main government buildings of Funchal. A tour between the Municipal Garden and the Cathedral.

The Statue of João Gonçalves Zarco is located in Funchal. To perpetuate the figure and work of João Gonçalves Zarco, the General District Board entrusted Francisco Franco with the construction of this statue. The architect Cristino da Silva was in charge of the pedestal project, where he represented allegorical elements related to the Discoveries: Colonization, Conquest, Wisdom and Evangelization. Once the place was chosen, the monument was inaugurated. Thus, in 1934, the statue of João Gonçalves Zarco was erected at the crossroads of Avenida Zarco and Avenida Arriaga. This statue won the gold medal at the Ibero-American Exhibition in Seville in 1929.

The Town Hall, located on Rua dos Ferreiros, is an excellent example of 18th century civil architecture. It was acquired by the Carvalhal Esmeraldo family in 1883. The building's highlights are its impressive doorway, carved from gray stone, and its magnificent reception on the first floor, which has 11 windows with their own balconies. The strong iron bars, typical of 17th and 18th century buildings, protect the windows on the ground floor and a splendid staircase connects the reception with the first floor. An arch leads to its beautiful inner courtyard, where you can see a marble statue of "Leda and the Swan". In Largo do Município, surrounded by the City Hall, the Colégio Church and the Museum of Sacred Art, you will find a fountain built in 1942 and an obelisk decorated with the coat of arms of the city along with other national symbols

After the looting carried out by a French flotilla in 1566, three Jesuit priests arrived on the island with the mission of raising the spirits of the population and checking whether the religious beliefs of the islanders had not been negatively affected. As his stay was a complete success, in 1569 the Society of Jesus ordered that a college be established in Madeira. The Jesuits arrived in March 1570 and stayed in one of the guest houses in São Sebastião. They began to search without delay for a place to settle permanently and immediately found a complex of buildings to the north of the streets later known as the “Queimadas”. Inside the church, the collection of altarpieces with gold leaf from the years 1647, 1648, 1654 and 1660 stands out. The main altar is considered a jewel of the carvings of the time in Madeira. Among the numerous chapels, the one of the “Eleven Thousand Virgins” must be highlighted for its beautiful altar. Its walls are covered with typical tiles.

The beautiful buildings that make up the Funchal museums, with gardens filled with flowers from the four corners of the world

In November 1485, construction began on a new church in Praça Campo do Duque, although it suffered several delays. In the year 1500, King D. Manuel l insisted that the work on the so-called “great church” had to end and in 1517 the new temple was finally consecrated. The architecture of this Cathedral is a mixture of strong European Southern Gothic and Mudejar influences, as well as Manueline and local styles. Ten Gothic arches connect the naves and the penumbra produced by natural light enters through eight Manueline openings, the rosette on the façade and some pointed windows on the main altar. Upon entering the temple, you will find some donations from King Manuel I of Portugal, such as the fountain, still located in its original place, the pulpit and the small main altar. Six chapels with Gothic arches occupy the side naves.

Wine tasting and typical local sweets.

We will also visit an exhibition of Bordado Madeira

Of particular interest here is Santa Maria street, whose doors have been decorated by international artists with their works of art. We walk through the old streets of Funchal, to then arrive at the ornate blue and white tiled Entrance of the Mercado dos Lavradores.

Mercado dos Lavradores, the famous and colorful market. where the most beautiful flowers of Madeira are displayed and all the exotic fruits are there for you to taste.