Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jardim Botânico, Funchal
As well as being a place where avid plant lovers can learn all about the
astonishing range of plants that thrive in Madeira's warm and humid climate,
this is also a great spot just to relax and enjoy the visual richness of the
immaculately maintained flower beds. The gardens occupy the grounds of an
estate that once belonged to the Reid family (founders of the world-renowned
Reid's Palace Hotel) and, with a practised eye for a good building site, they
chose to build their mansion on a sunny slope blessed with panoramic views.
Top 10 Features
1 NaturalHistoryMuseum
2 NativePlants
3 ValleyView
4 CactiandSucculents
5 CarpetBedding
6 EconomicPlants
7 MedicinalPlants
8 TopiaryGarden
9 SeasidePlants
0 ParrotPark
The outdoor café in the
Jardim Botânico
There is a café in the
grounds set around a
series of pretty lotus-
and lily-filled ponds.
Children will enjoy
looking out for the
frogs that live below
the pondweed.
! Natural History
Museum
TheQuintadoBom
Sucesso(“Mansionof
GoodFortune”) (below) ,
builtinthelate19th
centurybytheReidfamily
(see pp37, 112) ,was
boughtbytheMadeiran
governmentin1952.It
wasopenedin1960asthe
NaturalHistoryMuseum.
Some of the best
views are to be had
from the “Lovers'
Cave” at the topmost
point of the garden.
£ Valley View
Thewesternedgeof
thegarden(furthestfrom
theentrance)hasviews
overthegreen,canyon-like
JoãoGomesValley (below) .
Thoughcrossedbyaroad
bridge,thisisanimportant
wildlifecorridor.Huge,
ancientandgnarledparasol
pines,withtwistedbranch-
esandscalybark,clingto
therocksalongsidethe
miradouro (viewingpoint)
thatoverlooksthevalley.
Entry to the Jardim
Botânico also
includes admission
to the Jardim dos
Loiros, or Parrot Park
(see p53) . Orchid fans
shouldn't miss the
Jardim Orquídea (see
p56) , a short, if steep,
walk away.
@ Native Plants
Somanyplantshave
beenintroducedtothe
islandthatitisusefulto
beremindedof
nativespecies.
Thosegrowingin
bedsalongsidethe
museum (above)
includeboldandcol-
ourfulMadeiran
geraniumsandgiant
goldenbuttercups.
• Quinta do Bom
Sucesso, Caminho
do Meio
• Map H5
• 291 211 200
• Open 9am-5:30pm
daily
• Admission €3
The Botanical Gardens are 3 km (2 miles) northeast of Funchal,
on the route of town buses 30 and 31.
20
 
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