Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Monte
Like the hill stations of colonial India, Monte (literally, “Mount”) developed in
the late 18th century as a genteel and healthy retreat from the heat, smells,
noise and commercial activity of the capital. Funchal's suburbs now spread
their tentacles all the way up to Monte, but there is still a sense of escaping from
the city and entering a world set apart. The cool, clear air is filled with birdsong.
Few cars intrude onto the cobbled streets, and lush gardens are everywhere -
lushest of all, the extraordinary Monte Palace Tropical Garden
(see pp28-9)
.
Top 10 Features
1 TobogganRun
2 RailwayTerminus
3 ChurchSteps
4 NossaSenhoradoMonte
5 QuintadoMonte
6 CableCarStation
7 CapeladaConeição
8 FountainSquare
9 QuintaJardinsdoImperador
0 ParquedoMonte
The Monte cable car
You can get to Monte
from Funchal by taxi,
or by buses 20 or 21.
The most exhilarat-
ing way, however, is
to go up by cable car
(from the station in
Funchal's Old Town)
and return by the
traditional Monte
toboggan … or you
can descend on foot;
the Caminho do
Monte is a steep but
direct road into
Funchal, passing
through some attrac-
tive older suburbs of
the city. To get onto
it, just follow the
toboggan run.
!
Toboggan Run
Madeira'stoboggans
aresteeredbysmartly
dressed
carreiros
(toboggandrivers)instraw
boatersonthe2-km
(1-mile)tripfromMonte
toLivra-mento.
@
Railway Terminus
• Map H5
•
Nossa Senhora do
Monte Church. 291 783
877. Open 9am-6pm
Mon-Sat, 8am-1pm
Sun. Free
• Quinta Jardins do
Imperador. Camhino do
Pico. 291 780 460.
9:30am-5:30pm
Mon-Sat. Admission (to
garden only) €6 (children
€3; under 12s free)
•
Toboggan run. Dawn
to dusk. Fare €10 per
person plus tips
£
Church Steps
Nowacafé,thisbuild-
ingsituated550m(1,804
ft)abovesealevelwasa
funicularrailwaystation
until1943.
OntheFeastofthe
Assumption(15August),
pilgrimsclimbontheir
kneesupthesteepstepsto
Monte'schurchtopay
homagetothestatue
oftheVirgin,which
theybelievewas
presentedbytheVirgin
herselfwhenshe
appearedtoa
shepherdgirlinthe
15thcentury.
The entrance to Monte Palace Tropical Garden lies to the south of
Nossa Senhora do Monte, near the start point for the toboggan run.
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