21-Madeira (Portugal) 8th July 2014

8th July (Tuesday)

These doors are all so unique. They're really interesting, located in the Old Town of Funchal. I enjoyed taking photos of the doors painted by various artist

Madeira souvenirs. I bought one of these macaws!

Souvenir doll in traditional costume

The true macaws at the restaurant Terrace d'Ajuda

The blue and gold macaw with the red and green macaw! Precious animals

In total there were three macaws: one blue-and-yellow and two scarlet macaws 

I fell in love with them!

Excursion in Curral das Freiras

Nun's Valley (Curral das Freiras) is a civil parish in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos. It's a small village nestling between almost perpendicular mountains in the heart of the island

It was another memorable trip

Curral das Freiras is situated in the mountainous interior of Madeira being one of the more distant locations from the municipal seat of Câmara de Lobos, it's geographically isolated from other communities by the cliffs and peaks surrounding its central valley

Situated in a deep valley and encircled by steep mountain slopes, the parish of Curral das Freiras is located 29 kilometres from the municipal seat of Câmara de Lobos. A tunnel southwards in the direction of Funchal now offers safe access to the valley

The huge cauldron in which Curral das Freiras is sitting was either formed by erosion, which is the more recent theory, or as many still believe, by volcanic activity. In 1566 the nuns from the Santa Clara convent fled from pirates attacking Funchal and found seclusion here where they also brought the convent treasure

The village is very isolated and locals mainly live of what they grow. The local chestnuts are delicious and are used in everyday cooking

Curral das Freiras was the property of a couple that sold this land to the captain of Funchal, João Gonçalves da Câmara. This captain gave the lands to his daughters when they entered into the Santa Clara convent (also built by him)

Today’s ‘Nuns Valley’ has a great annual celebration. Every year locals celebrate the ‘Chestnut Festival’ – this festival originated when the local parish had a surplus of chestnuts. They were then used in several culinary delights from soup to cakes and from pudding to liqueur. Today the festival is a big attraction with plenty of food, music, dancing and of course wine

A perfect place where you can relax and 
enjoy a beautiful landscape and clean environment!

This is one of the most beautiful places in Madeira 

with breathtaking views of its surrounding mountains 

Spending a relaxing time

Curral das Freiras (south part)

The building with the clock is the church in Curral das Freiras: 
The church of Our Lady of Livramento (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Livramento)

4:12 pm ^_^

Most of the buildings in the parish overlook the main valley, with the steep hillsides encircling the parish used for the cultivation of cherries and grapes used in the production of Madeira wine

Estrada Cónego Camacho

Next to a souvenir shop

It's time to return home again