Funchal - Madeira

I've visited Madeira last year in October, Susana, who sent me this card, has been there last month and my brother will be there in a few days. Madeira has never been so popular :)

On the card there's a view of the Funchal Bay.

Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira.

"Funchal’s history goes back over 5 centuries when early Portuguese settlers colonised the coast of a bright and sunny bay where fennel (funcho) grew in abundance, giving it’s name to the new town of Funchal. Over the years the population grew, with international trade attracting the attention of all of Europe. Nowadays Funchal is a very modern city with over 104.000 inhabitants. It is one of the safest and cleanest cities in Europe and is a place that takes real pride in itself. In fact, it’s Portugal’s leading re-cycler! The perfectly cobbled streets in the centre mixed with the modern shopping areas, cafes, bars, restaurants and of course tourists, make Funchal a city that is both interesting and exciting.

The city itself is nestled in a great natural amphitheatre, facing the blue Atlantic with a backdrop of dramatic mountains. Located in the stunning south of Madeira, on it’s sunniest coast amidst banana plantations and wonderful gardens where flowers bloom all year round in the shelter of the verdant mountains, it is an extremely lush, green and relaxed city by day but scratch Funchal’s surface and you will find it to have a vibrant and varied nightlife scene with multiple personalities.
Funchal has also for many years been one of the Atlantic Cruise-ship’s main ports of call; with the Liner harbour right in the middle of the town. The approach to Funchal Harbour is well documented as one of the two most spectacular in the world, being on a par with Rio de Janeiro. It has now become a tradition that most European Liners, on their maiden voyage, call here; it is quite usual to see upwards of four cruise ships in at any one time. Once ashore, the cafés, restaurants and history that mark this famed capital are just a stroll away." - in: http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/funchal.html