
The Old Town Of Funchal Funchal is a sprawling city, reaching out
from its roots in the Old Town (Zone Velha). This once seedy area, patronised
by seamen, in recent years has seen a profound make-over to become a place of
fine restaurants and bars, an up-market,trendy zone that is constantly abuzz.
Funchal Market:
Spend a morning in the Mercado dos Lavradores. This is the place to soak up
the atmosphere of Funchal; visit on Friday and Saturday when farmers come into
town with rickety trucks full of flowers and vegetables. Adjoining is the fish market, a
fascinating place, but not for the squeamish.
Monte:
The village of Monte, accessible by a cable car, is renowned for its botanical garden,
and its toboggan runs, an exciting and unusual way of making a quick descent of
Monte’s road.
Câmara De Lobos:
A short distance from Funchal lies the fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, best
known for its attraction to Winston Churchill, who painted a number of
landscapes here. A very atmospheric if ramshackle place, the centre of the village
is an agreeable jumble of whitewashed houses, shops and bars.
