Great geographical discoveries begin small. Madeira, their rehearsal and starting point, was discovered and colonized at the dawn of time, and the consciousness of the time attributed this essentially African island to Europe. Funchal, the capital of Madeira, is called "Lisbon in miniature" because of the metropolitan grandeur of its straight avenues and the nobility of its parks.
The city of Funchal seems to grow out of the island – volcanic stone is widely used as a building material, not only to pave the streets but also to decorate the main cathedral, Sé do Funchal, and the very name of the capital of Madeira comes from the wild fennel that grows in abundance in this area. The splendor of nature here distracts attention for a moment from the creations of man: one of the main attractions is not by chance the "Lavrador" market in Funchal, where people go not so much to shop, but to admire the tropical fruits and bizarre fish. And what is worth the road along and under waterfalls, the dizzying view of the second highest sea cliff in the world, the beaches of Funchal with black volcanic sand or fantastic flowers that bloom all year round? "Floating Garden", "Island of Eternal Spring" – travelers do not spare epithets to describe this paradisiacal place, so there is something to see outside the city for those who come to Funchal for the first time.
Those who have seen Funchal on a sightseeing tour will leave with a very vivid visual impression of Madeira, especially if they arrive during the holiday season – whether it is the colorful costumes of Carnival, the "Wall of Hope" made of tropical flowers or the New Year's fireworks, recognized as a record-breaking pyrotechnic show. But even on an ordinary day, a stroll through Funchal will delight the eye with the combination of white walls, red tiled roofs and the rich colors of the famous painted doors that turn every street into an impromptu art gallery.
The local alcoholic production is sung by adventure novels about pirates and becomes another reason to visit Funchal. Madeira (Portugal can recall more than one such case) gave its name to a special type of fortified wine, and it also produces its own rum. Initially, the settlers were not able to grow crops here until sugar cane was brought from Sicily, which became a source of wealth for the island.
After years of being voted Europe's best island, and inspiring the vibrancy of travelers who visit Funchal, Madeira – Portugal saw it as a gateway to the New World for good reason – opens the arms of its (first!) statue of the Sacred Heart of Christ to meet its world-famous twin towering over the capital of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, another land colonized by the intrepid Portuguese.
