# The Play of Culture and Lifestyle in Funchal

- Link: https://leoviotti.com/blog/the-play-of-culture-and-lifestyle-in-funchal/
- Published: 2016-08-01T21:42:15+08:00
- Author: LeoViotti

![Funchal (1)](http://leoviotti.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Funchal-1.jpg)

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If the United States of America has New York’s Times Square for New Year’s celebrations,
Portugal presents its own version to the world in the city of Funchal.

Aside from being one of the country’s richest and most profound cities in terms 
of historical value and cultural impact, Funchal is also a fun place for chasing
away the blues of your typical tourist destination.

![Funchal (2)](http://leoviotti.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Funchal-2.jpg)

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Revel in the city’s suburban vibe and immerse yourself into the local’s innate hospitality.
Funchal should now be on your travel list as you won’t have anything to regret on
your way there.

**Location**

Funchal is specifically located in a well-carved amphitheater-shaped valley and 
all the things that surround it provide a good, sheltered environment for human 
settlement.

![Funchal (3)](http://leoviotti.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Funchal-3.jpg)

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Slopes go as high as 1200 meters, providing the best type of land setting for those
who live here. Funchal has a current population of 111,000 and is under the Autonomous
Region of Madeira.

**Climate**

Some of the things that should make Funchal your first stop whenever you find yourself
in Portugal are its uniform temperatures and tamed climate. According to the Koppen
Climate Classification, Funchal follows has a Mediterranean climate type, which 
equates to nice and warm summers and rain showers fit for a relaxing afternoon siesta.

![Funchal (4)](http://leoviotti.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Funchal-4.jpg)

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Since Funchal is slightly elevated from the rest of the country, expect lumps of
clouds always sheltering the place from blistering heat, providing for more manageable
weather all year long. The months of August and September are the hottest with an
average temperature of 23.2 degrees Celsius, which drops to 6.4 degrees Celsius 
when December kicks in.

**Transportation**

Madeira considers the port of Funchal as a major transportation terminal where tourist
boats, cruise ships and cargo vessels dock on a daily basis.

![Funchal (5)](http://leoviotti.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Funchal-5.jpg)

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The city is also well connected to other Portugal towns via sturdy highways such
as the Camara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava, Santa Cruz, Machico and Canical. If traveling
by air, Funchal visitors are served by the Madeira Airport which is conveniently
located to the east of the city.

**What to See**

**Mercado dos Lavradores**

When you’re about to leave Funchal after a splendid stay, get your feet walking 
to the illustrious Mercado dos Lavradores and be delighted with the textures and
colors you’ll see. Built in the 1940s, this commercial area has retained its original
structures, only growing as the years pass by.

![Funchal (6)](http://leoviotti.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Funchal-6.jpg)

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Here, you’ll be able to fill your luggage with lots of locally-grown fruits such
as anone, banana ananaz, tomato ingles and papaya. You can also dive into their 
bountiful fish market for some awesome produce.

**IBTAM**

They say that one of the best things that you can get as a souvenir from Funchal
is a locally-made piece of cloth since it represents how and what the place really
is.

![Funchal (7)](http://leoviotti.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Funchal-7.jpg)

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If you’re one of the many people who have a close affinity with weaving and embroidery,
then visiting IBTAM would be a great choice. Here, you’ll be able to witness locals
literally crafting Madeiran inspired textiles and you’ll be in luck since there’s
a store which sells these masterful pieces of labor.

**Quinta das Cruzes**

Aside from the fact that the Quinta das Cruzes is the former home of the person 
who discovered Madeira, Joao Goncalves Zarco, the very architecture seen on the 
manor’s facade will definitely invite you to come in.

![Funchal (8)](http://leoviotti.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Funchal-8.jpg)

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Now, it serves as a comprehensive museum for Madeira’s rich 15th to 19th century
life and museum lovers would be delighted to see antiques gathered from all over
the world in full display.

_See More:_

_Funchal, Madeira Island_
 [_ http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/funchal.html_](http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/funchal.html)

_Funchal, the ideal base for your Madeira holiday_
 [_ http://www.madeira-tourist.com/madeira/funchal.html_](http://www.madeira-tourist.com/madeira/funchal.html)

_Images:_

_(1) http://www.portugalexperiences.com_
 _ (2)https://www.flyedelweiss.com_ _ (
3) http://madeirapropertytorent.com_ _ (4) http://4.bp.blogspot.com_ _ (5) http://
static.lido-tours.com_ _ (6) http://www.ruralea.com_ _ (7) http://essential-madeira.
com_ _ (8) http://portal-services.netmadeira.com_

_Paul Intalan_