Everything about Funchal totally explained
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| Coat of arms |
Flag |
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| Map |
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| 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, population 100,526, is the capital of the
Madeira Islands of
Portugal. Funchal is also the largest city on the islands and with its neighbouring boroughs has over 150,000 inhabitants. It was founded by
João Gonçalves Zarco in 1421 and was elevated to
city status by King
Manuel I in 1508.
Today Funchal is a modern city, located in a unique area; 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.
Madeira's capital for more than five centuries, Funchal is said to have been named as such because of the abundance of
fennel (funcho- in portuguese) that was growing there.
Part of Funchal Municipality is Ilhas Selvagens (
Savage Islands ), one nature reserve 160 km (100 mi) South of Funchal.
Funchal is bypassed by a superhighway to the north east and southwest which accesses to Santa Cruz, the Madeira airport and Ribeira Brava.
Churches and Parishes
There are 10 Roman Catholic parishes in Funchal region. The most populated is
Santo António.
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 discover of the insulin-producing islets in the pancreas which bear his name.
(External Link)
History
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.
Funchal hosted the
Funchal Island Tournament in
1981 with
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama of the
Brazilian League.
Famous people
Cristiano Ronaldo, Football Player of Manchester United
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
Cabral do Nascimento, Poet
Pedro Camacho, Composer
João Fernandes Vieira, Military
Vânia Fernandes, Singer, Portugal`s Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Contestant
Fátima Lopes, Fashion Designer
Mark Athias, Investigator and Reformer
Henrique Franco, Painter
Victor Costa, Composer
Jorge Borges, Jazz Pianist
Bruno Santos, Jazz Guitarrist
Eurico Martins, Famous Badolins Orchestra Conductor and Orchestrator
Moises Henriques, Australian Cricketer
Gallery
Image:Funchal_Mercado.jpg|Mercado dos Lavradores
Image:Sé church Funchal.jpg| Cathedral Sé
Image:MadeiraWinery.jpg|Madeira Wine Lodge
Image:Funchal IMG 1736.JPG|City
Image:Funchal - Blick vom Botanischen Garten auf die Stadt IMG 1756.JPG|Botanical garden
Image:Funchal - Blick vom Botanischen Garten auf den Hafen.JPG|Botanical garden: Look at the harbour
Image:Funchal - Blick vom Botanischen Garten auf die Stadt IMG 1748.JPG|Botanical garden: Look at the town
Further Information
Get more info on 'Funchal'.
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