Right in front of you, you’ll spot a lovely garden oasis with lush trees and a glimmering pond, marked by playful fountains and a marble sculpture of two children.
Welcome to the Funchal Municipal Garden, where nature, history, and a little bit of mischief all come together! Imagine, centuries ago, this spot was actually home to the grand Convento de São Francisco. If you wander the alleys, you’ll even find a marble coat of arms from the 1600s, once proudly belonging to the Franciscan friars and Portugal. Fast forward to August of 1880, when gardeners started transforming the grounds into the blooming paradise you see now, with the first plants arriving all the way from Paris and Porto.
You’ll find plants from around the world here-an African sausage tree that will surely make you chuckle, mangosteen from distant India and Malaysia, and even the toothache plant from Mexico. But don’t worry, the locals are represented too, like ancient dragon trees and rare Madeiran “tis.” Every now and then, you might hear as you pass the small lake with its friendly swans and ducks. In 1992, the garden grew even livelier with a brand new amphitheater for concerts and fun all year round. And if you need a break, there’s a kiosk and a bar-so you can enjoy a snack as you watch the garden’s beautiful sculptures, like the charming “Meninos” made in 1943, playing by the water just as you might want to!
