In the city of Funchal, capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira

 "Funchal, to whom the captain gave this name, because it was founded in a beautiful forested valley, full of fennel up to the sea ...."

— Gaspar Frutuoso
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(in the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira) Should you be looking for a subtropical paradise with stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Madeira Island is the perfect destination for you. This island in the Atlantic Ocean offers many attractions, from lush forests and volcanic peaks to charming towns and sandy beaches. You can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Laurisilva, the largest surviving laurel forest in the world, or admire the colorful flowers and exotic fruits at the art deco Mercado dos Lavradores.

+The Madeira Islands, an archipelago of volcanic origin in the North Atlantic Ocean, belonging to Portugal, comprises two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and two uninhabited groups, the Desertas and the Selvagens. The islands are the summits of mountains that have their bases on an abyssal ocean floor. Administratively, they form the autonomous region of Madeira. The regional capital, Funchal, is located on Madeira Island.

+ Featured here, is Funchal, the 6th largest city in Portugal. Because of its high cultural and historical value, Funchal is one of Portugal's main tourist attractions; it is also popular as a destination for New Year's Eve (and it is the leading Portuguese port on cruise liner dockings.)

+ The first settlers named their settlement Funchal after the abundant wild fennel that grew here. The name is formed from the Portuguese word for fennel, funcho, and the suffix -al, to denote "a plantation of fennel"
Funchal, to whom the captain gave this name, because it was founded in a beautiful forested valley, full of fennel up to the sea.

+ This settlement began around 1424, when the island was divided into two captaincies. The zones that would become the urbanized core of Funchal were founded by João Gonçalves Zarco who settled there with members of his family. Owing to its geographic location, the site became an important maritime port and its productive soils attracted new settlers. Its coastal position, the most productive on the island, quickly permitted Funchal to develop an urban core and surpass the populations of other settlements.
In the early 15th century, Álvaro Fernandes became the commander of Funchal. As part of its administrative role, the settlement received its primary lighthouse between 1452 and 1454, when it was elevated to the status of vila and municipal seat. Funchal became an important transfer point for European commercial interests. Christopher Columbus was one of the early settlers, but later many of the merchant families established commercial interests on the island, including: João d'Esmenaut from the Picardy region, the Lomelino from Genoa, the Mondragão from Biscay, the Acciauoli from Florence, the Bettencourts from France, the Lemilhana Berenguer from Valencia, and many others.