Portugal - Day 19
September 27, 2025: Today we took a cable car up to Monte. Monte lies on the slopes above Funchal, spanning altitudes from around 300m up to 1,300m. The parish was created in 1565. Over time, Monte became a summer retreat for well-off families from Funchal, seeking a cooler climate and more pleasant environment in summer. One of Monte’s main attractions is Monte Palace Tropical Garden, a large garden with exotic plants, ponds, sculptures, tile work, and more. The cable car ride takes about 15 minutes and provides amazing views of Funchal. The garden entrance is right next to the cable car upper station. What makes this botanical garden unique is its blend of lush, exotic plant life with art, history, and sweeping ocean views. Spread across terraces carved into the hillside, the garden feels like a living museum: Japanese pagodas and koi ponds sit alongside African sculptures, while vibrant azulejo tile panels narrate the history of Portugal". Over 100,000 plant species thrive in the island’s subtropical climate. Strolling its shaded paths, you’re as likely to stumble upon a tranquil waterfall as a hidden mosaic. Unlike most botanical gardens that focus solely on flora, Monte Palace offers a sensory journey where nature, culture, and design intertwine. They have a cafe that offers wine tasting and a Poncha bar serving the local drink. It really is extraordinary. I highly recommend it to anyone who visits Madeira. It was one of our favorite stops so far. We spend 4 hours walking around enjoying the beauty of the place.
We took the cable back down to Old Town and went in search of Rua de Santa Maria, one of the oldest streets in the city. In 2010, the Arte de Portas Abertas (“Art of Open Doors”) project transformed many of its old doors into colorful works of art. Today, almost every doorway is painted with unique designs ranging from surreal murals and abstract shapes to portraits and playful scenes, making the entire street feel like an outdoor art gallery. I took pictures of many of the doors. We also found a great little restaurant where we stopped to eat and had some amazing pasta and pizza. We sat next to a couple from Britain and had a great conversation with them over lunch. Again, one of the joys of traveling is getting to meet new people whether at dinner, in a bar, on a tour or some other location. It is just so interesting to talk to other travelers and hear their stories.
We headed back to our apartment after our day of touring the Old Town area and enjoyed a night in just relaxing and watching the sunset from our veranda. We really enjoyed the day!