24 Hours in Funchal, Madeira
24 Hours in Funchal, MadeiraWhen the Portuguese settlers arrived on Madeira in the 15th Century, they were struck by the abundance of fennel (in Portuguese: funcho) growing wildly and so named their first colony: Funchal.
This picturesque city has a horseshoe shaped backdrop of verdant mountains rich in colourful subtropical vegetation that look out onto the Atlantic Ocean.
It has remained the capital of Madeira for the last five hundred years and today has its own international airport and serves as a popular destination for several cruise ships.