Mountain

On a lightly cloudy day, we decided to take a cable car ride from Funchal to Monte. The starting point is located on the promenade, so we strolled from the hotel to the center. Along the way, we noticed the statue of Sisi, the Austrian Empress, who spent a lot of time on Madeira.

There are a lot of people in the city today. At the harbor, we saw the reason why: a large cruise ship is docked there. So, we also encountered a long line of English-speaking tourists at the cable car.

After a 20-minute uphill ride through densely populated steep slopes, we arrived in the small mountain village of Monte. It is situated about 800 meters high, so it is much cooler here. We walked to the Nossa Senhora do Monte church, where the tomb of the last Austrian Emperor is located. He lived here in exile for 2 years.

Everything is green and blooming around us, you can visit the botanical garden or go for a Levada walk.

The cruise ship tourists are more interested in the rapid downhill ride back to Funchal. We watched for a while as the wicker sleds on wooden skis, pushed by two traditionally dressed men, raced down the steep and winding road. Since 1850, these sleds have been used as a means of transportation, reaching speeds of up to 48 km/h.

We prefer the safe return with the cable car, treat ourselves to a drink in Rue Santa Maria, and visit the Mercado dos Lavradores market hall on our way back to Funchal. In the open courtyard, we admire the incredible colorful products on offer.