Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the Toyota showroom
with its tiled exterior
(see
p43)
, the theatre
(see
p70)
and its chic café,
and several good
shopping arcades
(see
p69)
.
d
Map P2
&
Rua da Carreira
A stroll down Rua da
Carreira reminds you why
Funchal was once known
as “Little Lisbon . The
elegant buildings of this
bustling street, with their
green shutters and ornamental
iron balconies hung with plants,
are a taste of the Portuguese
capital. At No. 43, the
Vicentes Museum
(see
p38)
, with its
belle
époque
staircase, sets
the theme. At the
western end, a pretty
casa de prazer
(garden
gazebo) sits on the corner
of Rua do Quebra Costas,
the street that leads to
the secluded gardens of
the Igreja Inglesa
(English Church)
(see
p42).
d
Map P2
*
São Pedro and Santa
São Pedro Church
^
Around Avenida Arriaga
Wide and leafy Avenida
Arriaga is lined with some of
Funchal's most
prestigious public
buildings. They include
the offices of the regional
government, the
imposing Bank of
Portugal building
(see
p43)
, the St Francis Wine
Lodge
(see p58),
the
tourist office and its next-
door art gallery, and the
flower-filled São
Francisco Gardens on
the north side. On the
south side is the huge
São Lourenço fortress with its
battlemented walls
(see p68)
,
Detail of Fortaleza de
São Tiago
Clara
The streets north of Rua da
Carreira have some of Funchal's
best museums. The Museu
Municipal
(see p38)
in Rua
Mouraria has a pretty herb
garden next to it, and the church
of São Pedro
(see p40)
is lined
with 17th-century tiles. The steep
Calçada de Santa Clara leads to
the Freitas Museum
(see p38)
,
Santa Clara Convent
(see
pp16-17)
and the Quinta das
Cruzes Museum
(see pp14-15)
.
If you have energy left, keep on
up to the Fortaleza do Pico
(“Peak Fortress”
) (see p68)
for
panoramic views.
d
Map N2
Calçada Pavements
The pavements and squares of
Funchal are works of art. Blocks
of dove-grey basalt and creamy
limestone are laid in mosaic
patterns of great intricacy and
beauty, from the fish-scale
pattern of the Town Hall square to
the heraldic patterns and floral
motifs along Avenida Arriaga.
There are even complete pictures
along Rua João Tavira, north of
the cathedral, depicting the city's
coat of arms, a wine carrier and
the ship that brought Zarco
(see p15)
to Madeira.
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