Adventurous Maite: 29-Madeira (Portugal): 17th July 2014

17th July (Thursday)

MONTE'S JOURNEY

Another unforgettable day. I went to Monte with a friend who I met at the residence. Valentinas, from Lithuania but living in Denmark, came to Madeira to stay a few months. We decided to visit Monte and spend the day together taking a lot of pictures!

Our visit started with the cable car for a wonderful panoramic view of the city and the bay. This was my first time to take the scenic cable car (teleférico). I was anxious!

The departure station is at the park Almirante Reis

This was the first Cablecar in Madeira Island

Inside the Teleférico

Starting the journey :-)

Hundreds of houses

Selfie time!

Valentinas and I

The best views of the city and the coastline

Spectacular panoramic views over Funchal bay

This journey offers magnificent panoramic views from Funchal towards Monte

The cable car took us from the old part of Funchal to Monte in around 15 min. We enjoyed spectacular views of Funchal’s bay and valleys from one of the 39 seven-seater cars!

Amazing road system - there're a lot of tunnels

A different way to see the landscapes

The Funchal station is in Campo Almirante Reis and the Monte station in Largodas Babosas

You can get from Funchal to Monte in a few minutes while taking in the surrounding landscape. In Monte you can take the opportunity to visit the magnificent Monte Palace Tropical Gardens and also the Church of Our lady of Monte where lays the tomb of the last Austro-Hungarian Emperor Charles I

Monte Cable Car: 8 Caminho das Babosas

More pictures taken at the Monte Station

With a privileged location over the amphitheatre of Funchal, the parish of Monte, located about 9 Km from the centre and 550 m above sea level, is no doubt one of the must see places in Funchal. With lush vegetation and amazing views over the amphitheatre and the bay of Funchal, it has always been a preferred place for the visitors of Madeira since the beginning of tourism in the Island

Beautiful scenery!

We were near The Monte Palace Tropical Garden but we didn't
enter there cause the tickets were quite expensive

Huge and ancient tree

Little white and purple flowers

The Monte Palace garden is the most famous because of its rich art
and cultural collections and large variety of exotic plants

African Lily Flowers

Valentinas

Chapel of Our Lady of Conception (A Nossa Senhora da Conceição)

Capela de Nossa Senhora da Conceição was built as a follow-up to the open-air mass held by Pope Pio IX in 1904 to celebrate the anniversary of the Monte region. The chapel is built in a neo-classical design, characteristic of those times, and boasts a collection of four mosaic glass windows by Ricardo Leone

Great views

Orange roofs of houses

Kiwi plantations

Madeira: paradise of hydrangeas! (hortensias)

Quinta do Monte now called Quinta Jardins do Imperador: a unique Madeira hotel located in the heart of the picturesque and historic village of Monte, perched in the hills of Funchal, only a two minute walk away from the cable car terminal and the departure point of the famous wickerwork toboggans. This beautiful Manor house, built in the 18th century by James Gordon, is a haven of relaxation and tranquillity. This hotel is the perfect place for a very relaxing holiday surrounded by beautiful nature and combined with an excellent five star service

In 1899 this property was bought by banker Rocha Machado, who in 1921 offered temporary residence to Emperor Charles I of Austria and his family. Today this property belongs to the government and has been named after Emperor Charles I. Quinta Jardins do Imperador has a café within the fabulous architecture of the Malakoff tower and is surrounded by beautiful trees and a colorful rose garden, all in a remarkable romantic landscape overlooking Funchal

Wicker toboggans

Photo together

Overlooking the Monte Palace Tropical Garden

Smileeeeeeeeee

Magnificent views over the Monte Palace Tropical Garden

Looking at the Monte Palace Tropical Garden

Monte Palace Tropical Garden is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world

Tourists surrounded by a luscious green garden

Enjoying the quietness of the place

Sale of tickets for the Monte Palace gardens

Monte Palace Museum Located in the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, the museum houses two permanent collections, one of minerals and another of contemporary sculpture from Zimbabwe

Big posters

Toboggan start at the Grande Hotel Belmonte. This is the street just below the Monte Church’s steps where the toboggan rides start in front of the old entrance of the Grande Hotel Belmonte

The popular toboggan riders: os carreiros

Departure point of the Tobogan Sleigh Rides

It's quite expensive!!! Perhaps next time I'll do it... xD

Toboggan drivers with their "carros de cesto" (basket toboggans) waiting for customers

The Monte Toboggan Run

Originally used by locals as a quick way to get down the hills of Monte to the heart of Funchal in 1850, wicker tobogganing has quickly become Funchal's claim to tourism fame, attracting thousands of visitors to the island each year

A young couple starting a ride on a "carro de cesto" (basket toboggan)

Tropical flowers

Flowering treetops

A small lake where we found these beautiful swans

The swan trying to bite me!

Many tourists visiting the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of Monte)

Among the most pleasant places with amazing views, the high part of the Nossa Senhora do Monte parish is the most well known by all the visitors of Madeira Island. Monte was named after a small chapel built and dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of Monte). Beautiful “Quintas” (Estates) occupied the settled parts of the parish in the 16th century.

The main attraction for most of the tourists, Portuguese and foreigners, who visited the Madeira Island was around the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte

To reach the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, one must climb an impressionable
68 steps that are known for being inclined. But it's worth the effort

The twin-towered Nossa Senhora do Monte is the island’s most important church and stands on the site of one of Madeira’s first chapels, built in 1470 by Adam Gonçalves

The church is also the final resting place of Emperor Charles I of Austria and King of Hungary, the last Hapsburg monarch, who was deposed in 1918 at the end of World War I after just two years in power. This is the statue dedicated to him

The view from the top looks so good

Information about the church in Portuguese, English and German languages

The interior of the church

Worth the walk up the steps and chance to sit inside and catch your
breath back and take in the interior aspects of this quirky church

Church ceilings

Beautiful inside

Fashion models posing for photographers

Casa dos Romeiros "Casa das Confrarias" (Pilgrim’s House), near the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte in Caminho Padre José Marques Jardim. Old residential house, dating from the eighteenth century, who currently serves as the House of Culture, where you can see the exhibition "Emperor Charles D'Austria in Madeira"

Alley cat

Some dogs barking In the backyard of a house

Narrow stair-walkways between old buildings

Nature trails

Streams

Old houses against a hill

Saint Bernard Dog on a balcony

Beautiful Hydrangea Flowers (hortensias)

Monte Municipal Park

Parque Municipal do Monte the most popular and visited place located in the hilltop village of Monte overlooking the beautiful bay of Funchal. his romantic and very well maintained garden offers wonderful views a variety of flowers, plants and ancient trees and is the ideal place to go for a calm walk and admire nature’s beau

Jardim Municipal do Monte is situated about 550 meters above Funchal

The Municipal Garden covers much of the parish of Monte and immediately invites you to go for a walk. Beautiful flowers, ancient trees, some exotic species and the amazing landscape create a romantic environment

We saw centennial trees and many exotic and indigenous species

Romantic environment

Peaceful natural setting

Exploring the gardens of the Monte Municipal Park, also known as Parque Leite Monteiro, you can discover many indigenous and exotic species, and some hundred year old trees

Monte Municipal Garden or Parque Leite Monteiro is located at an altitude
between 543 and 586 meters and covers an area of 26.000 m2.

The construction began in 1894 and the first phase was completed in 1899

This is one of the most pleasant places in Madeira

Valentinas and I taking pictures of ourselves

Crossing a little bridge

This is a real fairy-tale scenery!

Viaduct in Parque Municipal do Monte (Municipal Park of Monte)

Giant butterbur, plants with large, heart-shaped leaves

Stone steps

Red leaves

Beautiful flowers: Lilium African Queen and Hortensias

This place covered by many indigenes and exotic plants, with some hundred years old trees, has a calming freshness also due to the ravine that passes by and cascades in the southern part

Maite, the explorer

Crossing the stream

Surrounded by nature

Huge tree

The walking trails paved with small basaltic pebbles
can be found all over the park allowing for pleasant walks

Leafy trees and paved roads

Walkways

Bazar do Teleférico: Caminho Babosas, 8, Ed. Teleférico, Monte

Beautiful calendars

I have the cap on the left with the number 3 but I liked a lot these caps "Absolut Madeira. Beautiful Island". I always buy caps when I travel, so I have many from different countries!