Funchal

Coat of arms Flag
Funchal's coat of arms Funchal's flag
Map
Map not yet
available
Statistics
Region: Madeira Islands
District: Madeira Island
Population: 103,962 2001
Area: 76.25 km²
Density 1,363.44/km²
Altitude: Lowest and Centre: Atlantic Ocean
Highest: about 1,400 m (northwest)
Number of parishes: 10

Funchal ( pron. IPA /fũ.'ʃaɫ/), population approximately 110,000 ( 1991), is the capital of the Madeira Islands of Portugal. Funchal is also the largest city on the islands and is ranked after Câmara de Lobos and Machico. It was founded by João Gonçalves Zarco in 1421 and was elevated to city by King Manuel I in 1508.

The city is named after fennel, which grows on the island.

Funchal is passed with a main road linking to both parts of the island and another road linking north to Faial and Santana. Funchal is located 21 km south of Faial, about 25 km S of Santana, 17 km SW of Machico, about 7 km E of Câmara de Lobos and about 37 km ESE of Calheta.

Part of Funchal Municipality is Ilhas Selvagens ( Savage Islands and Desertas Islands), two nature reserve islands 160 km (100 mi) South of Funchal.

Funchal is bypassed by Madeira's only superhighway to the north east and northwest which accesses to Santa Cruz, the Madeira airport and Câmara de Lobos.

Location:

  • Latitude: 32.633 (32°38') N
  • Longitude: 16.9 (16°54') W

Parishes

Here are the ten boroughs of Funchal:

  • Imaculado Coração de Maria
  • Monte
  • Santa Luzia
  • Santa Maria Maior
  • Santo António
  • São Gonçalo
  • São Martinho
  • São Pedro
  • São Roque
  • Sé

A crater named Funchal is founded on planet Mars.

History

Funchal
Funchal

In the early 1400s, Alvaro 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.

Some Navy ships including USS Arkansas, USS Chicago, USS John Hancock, USS Salem, CSS Shenandoah, USS Shenandoah, USS Yorktown visited the port.

Funchal hosted the Funchal Island Tournament in 1981 with Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama of the Brazilian League.

Postage stamps

25 reis, 1892, used in 1894; an "S." is visible for the town name.
25 reis, 1892, used in 1894; an "S." is visible for the town name.

Between 1892 and 1905, Portugal issued postage stamps inscribed "Funchal", but then reverted to the stamps of Madeira.

Persons

  • José Vicente Barbosa ( May 2, 1823 - November 3, 1907) Portuguese zoologist
  • Alberto João Jardim
  • Cristiano Ronaldo