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Funchal is the chief city of Madeira Island and is the capital of the Madeira Autonomous Region, Portugal. Funchal is also the largest city on the islands and with its neighbouring boroughs (municipalities) of Camara de Lobos, Santa Cruz, Machico and Ribeira Brava has over 150,000 inhabitants.
It is the most populous Portuguese city, outside mainland Portugal. The Funchal urban conurbation includes the cities of Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, Caniço and Santa Cruz, all on the south side of Madeira.
Funchal is located in a unique area on the island; the natural geological features form an amphitheatre surrounding the city, which begins at the harbour and rises almost 1200 metres high on gentle slopes.
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.
Funchal is bypassed by a superhighway to west and east with access to Camara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava to the west and Santa Cruz and Machico, to the east. Madeira is an international tourist destination for cruise ships and air planes.
The harbour of Funchal, is the busiest in Madeira, and lies within the Funchal city/municipality. Many cruise ships, boats and yachts use Funchal as a port of call.
 HISTORY OF FUNCHAL
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.
TOURISM IN FUNCHAL
Nowadays 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 other tourist destinations are: 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.
From Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia
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