Funchal

The first settlers named their settlement Funchal after the abundant wild fennel that grew there. The name is formed from the Portuguese word for fennel, funcho, and the suffix -al, to denote "a plantation of fennel": Funchal, to whom the captain gave this name, because it was founded in a beautiful forested valley, full of fennel up to the sea ...

The settlement of Funchal began between 1420 and 1425. The island was divided into two captaincies. The zones that would become the urbanized core of Funchal were founded by João Gonçalves Zarco who settled there with members of his family. Owing to its geographic location, the site became an important maritime port and its productive soils attracted new settlers. Its coastal position, the most productive on the island, quickly permitted Funchal to develop an urban core and surpass the populations of other settlements. In the early 15th century, Álvaro Fernandes became the commander of Funchal. As part of its administrative role, the settlement received its primary lighthouse between 1452 and 1454, when it was elevated to the status of vila and municipal seat. Funchal became an important transfer point for European commercial interests. …

Funchal is located inside a natural amphitheatre-shaped valley, with gentle slopes beginning at the coast which rise to 1200 metres and provide a natural shelter for early settlers In addition to the urbanized area, the municipality includes the Ilhas Selvagens (English: Savage Islands), a nature reserve located 294 km (183 mi) south of the capital. According to the Köppen climate classification, Funchal has a subtropical, hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). It is the warmest city in Portugal, with an annual average temperature of 20.0 °C (68.0 °F). The climate can be divided into two main seasons: a warm dry summer season spanning from May to September with average daily high temperatures ranging from 22 to 27 °C (72 to 81 °F), and a cooler wet winter season from October to April with average daily high temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 °C (68 to 77 °F). …

The Episcopal see (diocese) of the Roman Catholic bishop of Funchal includes the entirety of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and is a suffragan see under the Archdiocese of Lisbon. Its focus is the Sé Cathedral, located in civil parish of Sé, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Assunção (English: Our Lady of the Assumption) while its patron saint is Saint James. Anglican services have been held at Holy Trinity Church in Funchal (Rua do Quebra Costas) since 1822, although the first recorded Protestant service took place in 1774. The Holy Trinity Church also takes care of the British Cemetery of Funchal. Funchal Baptist Church was established in Madeira in 1976. It is located at Rua Silvestre Quintino de Freitas, and provides English services in the morning and Portuguese in the evening. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established on Madeira in 1983. …

Funchal is a major tourist town, with hotels, a port, and an international airport Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC), located 18 km (11 mi) away 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 centre of Madeira Island and the beaches in Porto Santo island. There is also a passenger gondola lift (Funchal Cable Car), that transports people from the lower section of the city to the suburb of Monte and another that runs between Monte and the Botanical Gardens. …

Madeira Airport, often known as Funchal Airport (code: FNC) and officially Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, is located east of the city, in the municipality of Santa Cruz. The airport was one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to the limited flat terrain in close proximity to cliffs, but an extension of the runway on concrete pillars into the sea has improved safety. It served more than 5 million passengers as of 2024. The Port of Funchal was the only major port in Madeira. From 2007 it has been dedicated to passenger transport (cruise ships and ferries) and other tourist-related boats and yachts. In 2017 all remaining fishing activity and cargo trade was moved to the newly developed port of Caniçal, 19 km (12 mi) to the east. …