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Madeira often gets nick-named the floating garden, and a visit to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens will make you see why. Even if you're not a great gardener, you'd be hard pushed not to find something to smile about up here where the air is clear, you're surrounded by exotic tropical plants and where the views of Funchal amaze.
Situated in historic Monte in the Funchal hills - Monte has been a luxury spa retreat and fashionable resort as far back as the end of the 19th century. The Palace Hotel up here contained a Sanatorium. Also up in Monte near the tropical gardens sits the Church of Our Lady of Monte with its distinctive two towers. This church dates from the 19th century, but it's not the first church to be up here.
The Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, Funchal's inland and up! gardens is a big contributor to the fact that Funchal won the Gold Medal in the European competition Entente Florale in 2000. This isn't just a run of the mill tropical garden, it's a journey through the history of Portugal - albeit a somewhat flower-powered version!
Inclusive in the gardens is a panel with 166 terracotta images called 'The Portuguese Adventure in Japan'. View also many panels of azulejos tiles dating from the 16th to the 20th century. Monte Gardens really is a centre to view azulejos!
All in all the Monte Palace Tropical Garden covers an area of 70,000 metres square and contains exotic flora from all over the world, for example azaleas from Belgium and cycads and proteas from South Africa. Of particular interest are the plants from the ancient Laurisilva forests native to the Madeira and Canaries archepelago. These include Laurus Azorica/Bay, til/Ocotea Foetens and beech/Myrica Faya. The Canary Island juniper is also here. Marked pathways guide you around, and features include Portuguese History Panels and giant Buddha statues. The huge central lagoon has waterfalls, ceramics, exotic plants galore and atmospheric statues. Also near the entrance to the gardens sits the Monte Palace Museum (weblink right). Exhibits change, and previous exhibits have included African Passion which displayed a collection of stone sculpture from Zimbabwe. (taken from the Berardo Foundation Collection).
Monte Palace Tropical Garden, Caminho do Monte nr.174, Caminho das Babosas nr.4 and 4A, 9050-288 Funchal, Madeira Portugal. Tel. 351 291 78 23 39. Monte Gardens are open daily from 9.30am to 6pm, and the Museum is open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Monte flocks with crowds come 15th August annually for the Feast of the Assumption. It's the medieval Virgin statue that people from all over Madeira come up here for, and then climb up the 74 steps to the church (on their hands and knees to denote their devotion!)
If crawling up church steps and laying yourself prostrate in front of the Virgin all seems a bit much, then cast this aside and head for Monte's most famous attraction - the Monte Toboggan!
You don't need snow to sledge you know. These wicker baskets on rails, which have been used to head down into Funchal from Monte from around the 1850s, hurtle down narrow roads guided by two Gondoliers (two blokes dressed in white and hats).
Hop on the Monte Toboggans at the bottom of the church. You'll need to tip the two gondoliers at the bottom, as well as the cost of the ride. Tel. 291 783 919 for details.
Also up on the hills above Funchal, although not quite as high as Monte, sits Jardim Botanico. You can drive up to these stunning botanical gardens, but taking the Botanical Gardens Cable car is an easier option (weblink right). Buses also trudge up here - details are on the Jardim Botanical Gardens website right.
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