Top 10 Madeira (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

Madeira’s Top 10
44
Left Jardim Botânico (Botanical Gardens), Funchal Right Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro
Gardens
! Jardim de São Francisco,
Funchal
St Francis, the patron saint of the
environment, would firmly
approve of this richly planted garden,
built in the city centre on
the site of Funchal’s long-gone
Franciscan friary. It is only the
size of a city block, but so full of
scented and flowering plants,
shaded by some truly enormous
trees, that you could be in the
middle of the jungle. d Avenida
Arriaga • Map P2 • Free
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Jardim de Santa Catarina,
@ Funchal
On the walk from downtown to
the hotel zone, this terraced park
has fantastic views over the harbour.
Look out for statues of
Henry the Navigator at the lower
end, Christopher Columbus by
the Capela de Santa Catarina
(see p42) and Francisco Franco’s
Semeador (the “Sower,” 1919,
see p39), symbolically throwing
handfuls of seed across the
grass. d Avenida do Infante
• Map Q2 • Free
£ Quinta das
Cruzes, Funchal
The flower-filled
grounds of this
“archaeological park”
(see p14) boasts grave slabs, a
private chapel, a wonderful
orchid garden and a casinha de
prazer (“pleasure house”),
perched on the walls to take
advantage of the views (see
pp14–15).
Carved lions in Quinta das
Cruzes
$ Monte Palace Tropical
Garden, Monte
This intriguing botanical garden
is full of caves, fountains, lakes,
fish ponds, Japanese temples,
stone and bronze sculptures, and
novel tile pictures (see pp28–9).
% Quinta Magnólia, Funchal
The Quinta Magnólia, built in
the 1820s as home to the US
consul, now houses the Foreign
Culture Library. Its palm-filled
gardens (with public
pool, tennis courts and
playground) lie along
the terraced flanks of
the Ribeira Seca valley.
^
d Rua do Dr Pita • 9am–dusk
Mon–Fri • Map G6 • Free
Quinta Vigia, Funchal
The lovingly maintained
official gardens of Madeira’s
president are open on weekdays,
provided that no official functions
are taking place. d Avenida do
Infante • Map Q1 • Free