Funchal Essentials Tour
Hello Travellers! I'm Lisa, born and raised in Madeira and the founder of the Free Walking Tours in Funchal. I desired to be a guide since I was a teenager and finally achieved my goal in 2016, when I became a local mountain guide. In early 2018, some hikers, challenged me to guide Free Tours in Funchal. I was not familiar with the concept, but learned about it and fell in love with the Free Tours! I'm very to be able to share my home island with our visitors ! In Summer 2022, Romeu joined this project and is know sharing his passion for Funchal with our travellers. Romeu is a teacher, a musician, a traveller and a very enthusiastic guide! Join our tours!!
Pickup
Yellow umbrella, with the company's logo The meeting point is inside Parque Santa Catarina, in front of the chapel. If there's a stage, the chapel is behind the stage.
Description
Funchal is the Capital of the Archipelago of Madeira, the first place the Portuguese settled overseas in the 15th, in the Age of Discoveries.
Soon, Funchal became a very important harbor in the Atlantic, as many ships stopped over to get supplies.
It was in Madeira that the sugar mass production started. Madeira supplied sugar to Europe in the 15th, 16th and part of the 17th Century.
The sugar trades brought wealth to the Island, which attracted many foreigners. Some just passing by, a lot of them settling here.
Christopher Colombus was in Madeira for the first time in 1478 due to a sugar trade and then lived a few years on the Archipelago, as he married a local lady.
With the decline of the sugar trades in Madeira, the Wine industry took over.
The fortified Madeira Wine is known worldwide.
Religion has always played a big role on the Islanders life and there are many curious stories surrounding some old Convents and Monasteries, which we will happily share with you.
On this tour, we will show you some of the main touristic sites and will also take you to some less known areas of the city, that are as beautiful and interesting.
We will recommend some local shops, tell you about touristic traps you should avoid and do our best to provide you a great experience and help you make the most out of your vacations!
There is a coffee break more or less half way through the tour.
We do not go to the Old Town on this tour.
There are some up and downhills during this tour. There is an uphill that might be demanding for sond walkers. Please bring comfortable footwear and water.
This tour is not suitable for wheelchairs or baby strollers.
We look forward to having you on our tours!