Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Long Borders
TypicallyEnglish
herbaceousborderplants,
suchasdelphiniumsand
daylilies,aremixedwith
tenderandexoticorchids,
andangel'strumpets
(daturas).Climbingroses
andjasminearedraped
overarchessothatyou
catchtheheadyscent
asyoupass.
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Quinta do
Palheiro Ferreiro
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The Terrace
Pavedwithtinysea-
wornpebbles,the
terraceoffersagood
viewofthehouse(no
admission)thatJohn
Blandybuiltin1885,
successfullyblending
EnglishandMadeiran
architecturalstyles.
&
The Old House
Nowaluxurious
hotel
(see p113)
,the
CasaVelhawasoriginally
ahuntinglodge.Arch-
duchessLeopoldinaof
Austriastayedhereon
herwaytomarryPedroI
ofBrazilin1817.
The Blandy Family
TheirstJohnBlandy
(1783-1855)arrivedin
1807asquartermaster
inGeneralBeresford's
army,whichhadbeen
postedtoMadeirato
defendtheislandagainst
attackfromNapoleon.
Blandyreturnedin1811,
andmadehisfortune
supplyingtheshipsthat
calledatFunchal'sbusy
port.Hiseldestson,
CharlesRidpath,bought
upallexistingstocksof
wineontheisland
whenmildewcaused
grapeharveststofailin
1852.Thisboldmove
enabledthefamilyto
dominatethewine
tradefromthenon.
(
Hell Valley
Despiteitsname,
thisvalleyisadelightful
tangleofbamboo,tree
ferns,nativewoodland
andcreepers,withan
understoreyofbeautiful
acanthusplants.
)
Camellia Walk
*
Lady's Garden
The
Jardim da
Senhora
(above)has
topiarynestingbirdsand
vintagetrees,includinga
grandoldMadeiran
til
tree
(see p23)
,two
Canarypinesanda
weeping
Saphora
japonica
,whose
corkscrewlimbsand
delicateleaves
cascadetothe
groundtoforma
naturalgreenveil.
Lookoutforthe
stonecirclecalledAvista
Navios(“PlaceforView-
ingShips”),wherethere
isaclearviewalltheway
downtotheharbour.
The name Palheiro Ferreiro literally means “blacksmith's hut .
Perhaps long ago a blacksmith chose this spot for his forge.
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