Funchal

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Funchal

Coat of arms	Flag

Map

Statistics
Region:	Madeira Islands
District:	Madeira Island
Population:	100,847
Area:	75.7 km²
Density	1,332/km²
Altitude:	Lowest and Centre: Atlantic Ocean Highest: Pico do Arieiro South Face 1,818 m (northwest)
Number of parishes:	10
Address of the city administration:	Câmara Municipal de Funchal Paços do Concelho Funchal 9000
Mayor:	Miguel Filipe Machado de Albuquerque
Website:	www.cm-funchal.pt

Funchal (Portuguese pronunciation: [fũˈʃaɫ]), population 100,526^[1], is the chief city of Madeira Island and is 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 it 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 has a unique location on the island: a natural "amphitheatre" surrounds the city, with gentle slopes beginning at the harbour and rising almost 1200 metres. This provides a natural shelter and was what attracted the first settlers. Funchal is a cosmopolitan and very panoramic city with several parks. There are many hotels, including deluxe properties. Funchal has been Madeira's capital for more than five centuries, and is said to have been so 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 superhighway provides access to Camara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava to the west, and Santa Cruz and Machico to the east. Madeira is an international tourist destination served by cruise ships and planes.

[edit] Harbour of Funchal

The harbour of Funchal is the busiest in Madeira. Many cruise ships, boats and yachts call there.

[edit] Airport

Madeira Airport, often known as Funchal Airport/Madeira/Santa Catarina Airport (code:FNC), is located east of the city, in the municipality of Santa Cruz. Several airlines serve FNC.

[edit] Parishes (Freguesias)

The municipality (Municipio) and city (Cidade) of Funchal coexist as one. Its urban area sprawls from the harbour on the Atlantic to the mountain and hills above. There are ten parishes/paroquias:

The most populated is Santo António. Sé is where the cathedral is located, in the old city center.

[edit] Funchal Diocese

The see of the Bishop (Diocese de Funchal) includes all of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

[edit] Curiosity

The British cemetery (or Protestant Cemetery) in Funchal is located by the Holy Trinity Church. It contains the remains of a number of famous people, including Paul Langerhans, the discoverer of the insulin-producing Islets in the pancreas which bear his name. [1]

The record for the largest firework display was achieved on Madeira on 31 December 2006.

[edit] History

Funchal was founded by João Gonçalves Zarco in 1421 and was elevated to city status by King Manuel I of Portugal in 1508. In the early 1400s, Álvaro Fernandes was the commander of Funchal. In the 16th century Funchal was important as a stopping place between the Indies and the New World, and was known as a wealthy place. It was also the port for Madeiran sugar and wine.

[edit] Tourism

Today Funchal is a major tourist attraction, with several hotels, an important port, and an International Airport Funchal Airport (FNC), located in the nearby municipality of Santa Cruz. Besides the city of Funchal, tourist destinations include: Ribeira Brava, Curral das Freiras, Porto Moniz, Santana, the Laurisilva forest, a UNESCO Natural Site, in the center of Madeira island and the beaches in Porto Santo island. There is also a passenger gondola lift (Funchal Passenger Ropeway), that transports people from the lower section of the city to the suburb of Monte.

[edit] Famous people

Cristiano Ronaldo, Football Player of Real Madrid
José Vicente Barbosa (May 2, 1823 - November 3, 1907) Zoologist
Artur de Sousa Pinga, Legendary Portuguese football player
Alberto João Jardim, President of the Regional Government of Madeira
Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, former Archbishop of Goa, India
Pedro Macedo Camacho, Composer
Vânia Fernandes, Singer, Portugal's Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Contestant
Fátima Lopes, Fashion Designer
Jorge Borges, Jazz Pianist
Bruno Santos, Jazz Guitarist
Moises Henriques, Australian Cricketer
Herberto Hélder, Poet
Lloyd Mathews, Military and Political leader

[edit] Twin Towns

Funchal is twinned with:

[edit] Gallery

Funchal at night	Madeira's Casino, Funchal	Mercado dos Lavradores	Cathedral Sé
Madeira Wine Lodge	City	Botanical garden	Botanical garden: Looking at the harbour
Botanical garden: Look at the town	Ponte João Gomes	Funchal market	Town Hall Square