subject: The Best That Funchal Has To Offer [print this page] Madeira Island is a vacation location that most US based tourists only see during a short stop. The reason for this is that most American visitors to Madeira Island travel courtesy of one of the frequent mid-Atlantic exclusive cruise ships. As is the norm when travelling on cruise ships, these luxury liner only stop for a few hours before setting sail for the next destination. The briefness of stay is a pity since Madeira has great natural and cultural diversity to offer it's guests.
As a person well versed in the delights of Madeira travel sector, I often get asked if the whole island can be seen in a single day. That many of visitors to our island believe this would be possible comes as no surprise. After all, if you look at Madeira on a map, you will discover that the island stretches to dimensions that are around thirty three miles long by fourteen miles wide.
Not long ago, the mountainous volcanic topography meant that travelling any distance by car could be an extremely difficult and slow adventure. Up until a couple of decades ago, the only available route from one end of the island to the other was via narrow mountain hugging roads that twisted and turned. Positively not recommended if you lacked a head for heights or you were prone to getting travel sickness!!
Much to the relief of the local population, nowadays, the island has a motorway network that makes quick and hassle free journeys the norm. However, rushing around the entire island in a little more than 5 or 6 hours would leave little time to fully appreciate the extent of scenery, noteworthy towns, villages and tourist spots that Madeira is rightly proud of. The best course of action, if time is restricted, would be to opt for a localised tour.
Hence, for the visitor with restricted time, what is the best tour option?
Well, for those cruise ship liner passengers who have yet to sample the delights of Madeira island, I would recommend a whistle-stop tour taking in the main attractions of Funchal, the island's capital. All cruise ships tie up in Funchal harbor, so this option minimises travelling distance and hence maximises actual sightseeing..
Funchal and its immediate mountainous vicinity has plenty of interesting attractions to visit that cater for almost everyone, regardless of their own personal likes and dislikes. A top 5 selection would definitely consist of these activities:
Get a ticket for the Funchal cable car. As you ride up, passing over the cityscape, you will get some unbelievable views. You will also gain an aerial view of your luxury cruise ship at anchor in the harbor - perfect if you want to snap a special souvenir photo of it.
Upon exiting the cable car, take time to enjoy a cooling drink in the adjacent cafe - the views are spectacular. Now, walk along the roadway (do not be alarmed, there are hardly any cars) to the church at Monte. This church, much beloved by the locals, occupies the very same spot where the first chapel on Madeira was built. This chapel, if Madeiran legend is dependable, was built to celebrate the first children to be born on the island, twins aptly called Adam and Eve. Inside the church, you will discover the tomb of Emperor Charles I of Austria the last Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor. One grissely fact that you may or may not want to know is that the Emperor's heart lies elsewhere, many miles distant in Muri Abbey in Switzerland..
If you like to wander around formal gardens, then the delightful Monte Palace Tropical Gardens should be just right for you. This ever popular tourist attraction, planted in the surrounds of a now disused colonial hotel, have massed displays of trees, shrubs and flowers from all over the world. To add interest, especially for children, there is a strange assortment of cultural objects scattered among the plants. Keep an eye out for the world's biggest ceramic vase. In particular, look out for the formal Oriental Garden and the collection of ceramic tiles that includes items spanning 150 years of history.
Next, head for the unique Monte Toboggans ride. These examples of a primitive form of transport are made from chair sized, flimsy, wicker baskets mounted on wooden runners. Once you have seated yourself down, two men will manipulate your unusual type of transport downward along the sharply descending twisting roads. Ernest Hemmingway once recorded that the Monte toboggan journey he went on was the most exhilarating experience of his life. Unfortunately, in this modern age concerned with health and safety, it is no longer so exciting, but you will still find nothing like it anywhere else in the world.
Following all that excitement, you will most likely require a bit of relaxation and refreshment. It's now just about time to return back to the center of Funchal and choose from the many restaurants and cafes that are there to cater for tourists and local customers alike.
Overlooking the yacht Marina there are some top class fish restaurants. All these restaurants guarantee that every item on the menu will have been bought in the nearby fresh fish market earlier that day.
Alternatively, explore the side streets where some traditional cafes list on their menus typical Madeiran meals at very affordable prices. You may soon find yourself sipping a post meal glass of Madeira wine in a converted old wine cellar. Or, maybe, relishing the subtleties of espetada, a traditional beef meal prepared by laying chunks of meat over an open fire on skewers, whilst being entertained by a traditional Madeiran folk troupe.
Whatever your choice, I can guarantee that, as your cruise ship sails out into the Atlantic ocean and the mountain tops of Madeira fade into the blur of the horizon, you will be exploring the possibility of visiting this lovely island sanctuary once again.
