Monte

---

Our first agreed upon "must see" before we leave Madeira at the end of the week was Monte. It's a village just above Funchal that consists mostly of villas and doesn't really have a town, just a square.

One of the ways to reach Monte is by cable car from Funchal's waterfront. It's a twelve-minute ride over Funchal and straight up the mountain. The ride is very quiet and you almost feel like you're eavesdropping as you look down on people's patios, but the view is spectacular as the city drops away from beneath you.

At the top we followed a road around the next ridge and came upon the Nossa Senhora do Monte, which is easily seen from below at night as it's twin steeples are brightly lit. A side chapel of the church is the finally resting place of the last reigning Hapsburg. Karl I of Austria was exiled here after the First World War and died in 1922. We heard German spoken by many people visiting the church. Apparently, one of the cruise ships in the harbor that day carried many Austrians and some made the trek up the mountain to pay their respects to their last monarch.

From there we followed a path around the back of the church where we could look down on Monte's square. It was a delightful site: people were milling about, a man in Portuguese costume was playing an accordian, vendors had tables set up laden with souvenirs, and there was a sizable cafe with outdoor tables set up. We made a beeline down several switchbacks and grabbed an empty table at the cafe. We had steak sandwiches, chips and each enjoyed a glass of white wine. Shaded by huge, old, but leafless trees, we sat for an hour watching people go by in the square.

Back down the road toward the cable car, we entered our favorite place from last year's visit, Monte Palace Tropical Garden. Originally a beautiful estate, the property was converted to a hotel and then subsequently sold in 1987. The buyer donated it to a foundation that has probably spent millions to develop the most enchanting place on the island. It's been planted with exotic flora from countries all around the world. It has streams, lakes and waterfalls moving through lush vegetation and swirling past Bhuddas, sculptures, and stone work. Coats of arms, tiles, pagodas and lanterns are strategically placed around the garden. One big section is called the Japanese garden and has brightly painted red bridges and railings to accent the design.

There's also a museum that showcases a large collection of contemporary sculpture from Zimbabwe along with a collection of minerals and gems from around the world. Clearly, this is a special spot for us. It helped Funchal win the Gold Medal in 2000 by the European Association for Flowers and Landscaping!

---

Photos

Nossa Senhora de Monte
Monte's Church

Cafe do Parque
Where we had lunch on the square.

Zimbabwe Sculpture
One of thousands displayed in the Monte Palace Museum

Garden Pond
Water, foliage, sculpture, railings, all elements of the beautiful garden

Small Water Feature
A niche found in the massive garden

Azulejos
A lovely piece of tile work in the garden