Day 11 - Day 13: Madeira From April 29 2025 to May 01 2025
Breakfasts at the hotel during your stay. Take the opportunity to discover the beauty of Madeira! Right in the middle of the Atlantic, the island of Madeira is well known for its breathtaking landscapes and its absolutely stunning natural heritage.
Opt to book optional excursions ($) at destination, that will take you to a whale & dolphin watching in their natural habitat or go on a tour to visit Pico dos Barcelos, Eira do Serrado, Porto Moniz and more!
April 29 2025 Day 11 Madeira
STEPS 7.000
Breakfast is included. It is the usual fare that we have seen on this trip.
Yes, I had to try the sardines.
It runs Monday to Friday with only 2 pickups per morning and afternoon.
No one tells you that the shuttle bus is up the hill, again, not suitable for anyone with mobility issues. No worries though, the bus is small and full so we take a Uber.
Ingenious reserved parking, you have a key to the
Secure your parking space: the non-parking manual locking tube prevents other cars from parking in your parking lot. In addition, this bollard simply folds down to allow access to your vehicle, and when locked with a key, your space stays safe.
As usual when we don't know a city we chose the cathedral as our destination.
$14.39
The population of Funchal is about 106,000, and—along with the rest of Portuguese civilization on Madeira—it dates back to the early-mid 1400s. The name Funchal is derived from the Portuguese word for fennel, which grew wild all over this area when the first mainland settlers arrived here. Today it’s the administrative capital of Madeira and major stop-over for cruise ships, which fills its streets with visitors wearing flowery clothing most days. It’s definitely got strong vacation vibes.
Once we got into town we asked him to drop us at "Praça do Comércio" which is a name that doesn't directly translate to a specific place or building in Portuguese. The term "Praça do Comércio" is the name of Lisbon's Commerce Square.
The church of São João Evangelista was built in 1629 by the Jesuits who established themselves in Madeira some time after 1570. The Baroque style took over from the original Mannerist composition, and in meeting with the ideas of the Counter-Reformation, it called Christians to glorious salvation and elevated them in its artistic glory.
With the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1760 the church was closed until 1846 at which time, aware of the monument's valuable heritage, the Civil Governor, José Silvestre Ribeiro, undertook important renovation works and returned the church to the Bishropic thereby making it once again available for religious services.
Jacaranda trees in bloom.
The cathedral we had used as our destination.
The Church of Santa Maria was built by order of King Manuel I to replace the Church of Our Lady of Calhau, in the island’s first ever parish, as it was too small to house the growing number of faithful. The new Church of Santa Maria or «the Big Church», as it was then referred to, was dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption and occupied an area in the historical centre then known as Largo do Duque.
Started in 1493 and dedicated on October 18, 1517, the church was elevated to Cathedral by Pope Leo X who instituted the bishopric of Funchal, then the largest diocese in the world, since it covered all territories discovered by the Portuguese, from Brazil to Japan.
Mass was taking place so I left.
The coffee at every hotel breakfast has been awful, they all use those vending machines that make everything taste the same while not being hot.
The rain is spitting on and off so we decide to that the Hop On Hop Off.
Hop On Hop Off The pick up location for the Funchal hop-on hop-off bus is Avenida do Mar, near the marina. This is also the first stop on the tour. Get the Value ticket, covers red and blue lines.
We thought we would ride it to check out our neighbourhoods we might want to see, but ended up not getting off the red line at all.
The Chafariz da Rotunda do Infante, is a stunning fountain, dedicated to the Infante Dom Henrique.
Market, we'll be back to visit.
Rua 31 de Janeiro
Until the collapse of the monarchy in Portugal, it was called Rua da Princesa (Princess Street) and often called Rua das Árvores (Street of Trees), due to the abundance of trees that existed in this area. It owes its toponymy to the date, and more specifically to the day and month, of the first Republican Revolt and attempt to Implant the Republic in our country, which happened in Porto, on January 31, 1891.
The Church of St Martin (Portuguese: Igreja de São Martinho) is the main church in the Freguesia (Parish in English) of São Martinho (Funchal), Madeira. Dedicated to St. Martin of Tours.
We are back in yesterday's town Camara de Lobos. It is the main highlight of the red line and definitely worth a stop if you haven't been here.
Passing the entrance to our hotel.
Back in town we stop for wine and dessert.
We decide we many as well do the blue line Hop On tour as well today, as rain is forecasted for the next few days.
This bus was not a double decker and it didn't have any commentary. The skies opened as we climbed higher although it isn't noticeable in the photos. The driver handled the crazy roads like an F1 competitor.
It only made a couple of stops, one at the Monte Gardens and another at the toboggan ride. Too rainy for both. We had planned on the toboggan ride, however decided it didn't really matter to either of us.
Back in town.
The Bank of Portugal, established in 1846, serves as the central bank of Portugal and plays a crucial role in the country's financial system. The building located at Av. Arriaga in Funchal is noted for its architectural significance, reflecting the grandeur and style of early 20th-century design.
We pick an expensive spot for a bathroom/wine break!
Fancy uniforms on the staff.
More wandering up and down side streets.
We settle on a spot for our lupper (lunch and supper).
Entertainment outside.
John had beef skewers which were a little underdone for him.
I had scabbard fish, because I've never heard of it before.
The "Funchal scabbard fish" refers to the black scabbardfish, a key fish species in the Madeira Islands, specifically in Funchal, the island's capital. It's a deep-sea fish, a delicacy in Madeiran cuisine, and known locally as "espada" (Portuguese for sword.
Served with a local banana on top.
Click here to see it raw at the market.
