Funchal is the chief city of Madeira Island and the capital and largest city of the Madeira Autonomous Region, Portugal.
With its neighbouring boroughs (municipalities) of Camara de Lobos, Santa Cruz, Machico and Ribeira Brava the town has over 150,000 inhabitants. It is the most populous Portuguese city outside mainland Portugal. The Funchal conurbation includes the cities of Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, Caniço and Santa Cruz, all on the south side of Madeira.
Funchal lies in a natural "amphitheatre", with gentle slopes beginning at the harbour and rising almost 1200 metres. This provides a natural shelter that attracted the first settlers. Funchal is a cosmopolitan and panoramic city, with parks, shops and hotels.
Funchal has been Madeira's capital for more than five centuries, and is said to have been named because of the abundance of fennel (funcho - in Portuguese) growing there.
The Funchal Municipality includes the Savage Islands (Ilhas Selvagens), a nature reserve 160 km (100 mi) south of Funchal.
A highway provides access to Camara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava to the west, and Santa Cruz and Machico to the east. |
