12-Madeira (Portugal) 20th June 2014

20th June (Friday)

Fortaleza de São João do Pico - São João do Pico Fortress

Some of Funchal's best assets are its fortresses. There are 4 of them and all of them quite interesting. Although, most people can only notice one of two of them, if you dig deep, there are four! This day we visited one of them: São João Baptista do Pico Fortress: Fortaleza do Pico, located in Pico dos Frias, in the parish of São Pedro

São João Baptista do Pico Fortress Or simply: either São João Fortress or Pico Fortress. Both names are used by locals, never the long original name. It takes a while to climb up to it, but it's a minimal effort. What's great is that the crowds generally don't venture up here. And I went thanks to my dear friends :-)

Caminho da Achada located in Achada (São Roque do Funchal). Achada is a village site of the parish of São Roque do Funchal. Here is located a primary school (1934), and the Hotel Jardins do Lago.  O Caminho da Achada which comes from Calçada do Pico in São Pedro, to Muro da Coelha in São Roque,  which owes its name to this place

On the left: Caminho da Achada 
On the right: Calçada do Pico, already in São Pedro

Downtown from Fortaleza do Pico in Funchal

Houses along the road, as we were walking to São João do Pico

Interesting gate adjacent to Fortaleza do Pico. It's a rock door with iron

First, we walked around its huge thick walls, then I found the entrance and went in. Of course, the views from "down there" (from the base of the walls) were different from what we were able to see from "up there"...

Fortaleza do Pico: gate

Visiting the São João do Pico Fortress

The entrance to the Fortress

The exact date, when the construction of this fortress was first started, isn't yet known. Although, it's believed that the construction had already begun in 1606, the fortress was only finished during the second half of the 17th century. At around that time its name was also changed to São Filipe, then in the 19th century to São Miguel and later back to São João again. In the 20th century the fortress was ceded to the Navy, which installed their communications centre here

Classified monument of public interest in 1943, this fortress offers a magnificent view over Funchal to all those who made it up the steep alley!

Enjoying the fantastic views from the top

The Pico Fortress is the best viewpoint that I was able to find in all of Funchal. Even better than the Monte, because the place is still rather close to the city centre and one can better observe it from here

View towards central Funchal

Portuguese flag flying in the wind

Another views

Andreia and I

Micaela, Andreia and I

Forbidden access

Having a rest in this privileged place

CR7 store in Rua Vale da Ajuda in his hometown

Super Sweets, Rua do Vale da Ajuda 102

Snack times ^_^