Travel Guide Funchal

It was in the 15th century, the period of the Great Discoveries, that the first Portuguese discovered Madeira Island. The territories occupied by the present capital were then covered with wild fennel. Thus, Funchal comes from the word 'funcho', which means fennel in Portuguese. The first impression is striking when the plane tears the veil of clouds and the high cliffs of the island rise enigmatically. First we overlook the Punta de São Lourenço, then the plane continues parallel to the coast before making a complete U-turn and landing on the new runway, as if clinging to the mountainsides. In good weather, the view is superb: the bright white houses blend with the green of the hills and the blue of the ocean in a fascinating kaleidoscope of colours. They cling to the slopes, nest in the hollows of the ravines; the forest seems to be pushed back to the heights. The south of the island gives the impression of congestion, or at least confusion. It is the sunniest coast of the island, and therefore the most popular. In fact, you won't find the wildest corners, but the capital city, Funchal, inevitably attracts the traveller for its amenities and historical charm; and the sun-drenched coastline is a pleasure to behold, even if you can't swim in it because it is so steep, not to say dramatic... There are still the natural pools, filled with seawater, some beaches and the countless museums scattered around Funchal.About 30 kilometres west of the airport, Funchal (about 112,000 inhabitants) is a large city (for the size of the island), colonial style, all white, rising from the sea, occupying a vast amphitheatre basin facing south. The city was created by Zarco, one of the two discoverers of the island, at the mouth of three rivers. A monument is dedicated to the navigator, and many places and commercial signs recommend themselves to the "father" of the island. For the capital is particularly linked to the sea. Its port remains the umbilical cord that connects the island to the rest of the world. Every late afternoon, the whole city comes to take a breath of fresh air on the ocean shore, on the pier and around the marina where passing yachts are sailing. We comment on the new designs left by each boat, according to a tradition that originated in the Azores and has since been respected by all boaters. It is very chic to have a sailboat, even a modest one, when you are a Madeiraian, and to invite your friends to have a drink on it. The port is one of the few places in the city where one can escape the bustle and traffic in the streets.