The enchanted Old Town of Funchal.

The enchanted Old Town of Funchal.

The Old Town of Funchal “Zona Velha” is a historic region with a rich architectural history. It is located in the lower part of the city, near the sea, where you can find quite a lot of really good traditional restaurants built from old fishermen’s houses and other 18th-century residences. Its streets and courtyards are pleasant, and history tells us that this is where the city’s original colony was founded.

The Corpo Santo Chapel, the Fortress of Santiago, the Story Centre Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Electricity Museum are just a few of the historical attractions in this iconic location that is worth visiting. There are also lovely green spaces and other attractive natural areas.

The well-known Farmers Market “Marcado dos Lavradores” and the start of the cable car that will take you up to the parish of Monte, which is likewise of significant historical and religious interest, are both in this area.

The “Mercado dos Lavradores,” which opened in 1940, was designed to provide a central location for the island’s residents to buy and trade local products and is a place brimming with color, unusual scents, and history. This structure’s main entrance, which has a covered area of 9,600m2, is embellished with hand-painted tiles depicting regional themes. Women dressed in traditional Madeira costumes can be seen selling flowers at the main gate.  When visiting the market, make your way up to the first floor, where you will find fresh exotic fruits and vegetables, spices and herbs, leather, and wicker.

Some of Madeira’s most vibrant bars are currently located around Zona Velha. It’s nearly hard to discuss the city’s nightlife without mentioning this unique neighborhood. There are numerous nightlife options among the traditional tiny cobblestone alleyways. There are two components that are always present in all of them: enjoyment and the famous poncha, a local brandy made from sugar cane.

With the implementation of the “Painted Doors” project, by the artistic community, which was encouraged to express their creativity on the doors and façades of specific buildings, Funchal’s Old Town has also become an authentic open-air art gallery.