Funchal

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Funchal
Coat of arms	Flag
Map
Map not yet available
Statistics
Region:	Madeira Islands
District:	Madeira Island
Population:	100,847
Area:	75.7 km²
Density	1,332/km²
Altitude:	Lowest and Centre: Atlantic Ocean Highest: Pico do Arieiro South Face 1,818 m (northwest)
Number of parishes:	10
Address of the city administration:	Câmara Municipal de Funchal Paços do Concelho Funchal 9000
Mayor:	Miguel Filipe Machado de Albuquerque
Website:	www.cm-funchal.pt

Funchal (pron. IPA [fũ'ʃaɫ]), population approximately 140,000, is the capital of the Madeira Islands of Portugal. Funchal is also the largest city on the islands. It was founded by João Gonçalves Zarco in 1421 and was elevated to city status by King Manuel I in 1508.

Today Funchal is a modern city, located in a unique area; the natural geological features form an "amphitheatre" surrounding the city, which begins at the harbour and rises almost 1200 metres high on gentle slopes. This provides a natural shelter and was what attracted the first settlers.

Madeira's capital for more than five centuries, Funchal is said to have been named as such because of the abundance of fennel (funcho- in portuguese) that was growing there.

Part of Funchal Municipality is Ilhas Selvagens (Savage Islands ), one nature reserve 160 km (100 mi) South of Funchal.

Funchal is bypassed by a superhighway to the north east and southwest which accesses to Santa Cruz, the Madeira airport and Ribeira Brava.

Location:

• Latitude: 32.633 (32°38') N
• Longitude: 16.9 (16°54') W

Contents 1 Parishes 2 History 3 Famous people 4 Gallery 5 External links

[edit] Parishes

• Imaculado Coração de Maria
• Monte
• Santa Luzia
• Santa Maria Maior
• Santo António
• São Gonçalo
• São Martinho
• São Pedro
• São Roque
• Sé

There are 10 parishes in Funchal region. The most populated is Santo António.

[edit] History

In the early 1400s, Álvaro Fernandes was the commander of Funchal.

In the 16th century Funchal was important as a stopping place between the Indies and the New World, and was known as a wealthy place. It was also the port for Madeiran sugar and wine.

Some Navy ships including USS Arkansas, USS Chicago, USS John Hancock, USS Salem, CSS Shenandoah, USS Shenandoah, USS Yorktown visited the port.

Funchal hosted the Funchal Island Tournament in 1981 with Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama of the Brazilian League.

[edit] Famous people

• Cristiano Ronaldo, Football Player of Manchester United
• José Vicente Barbosa (May 2, 1823 - November 3, 1907) Zoologist
• Artur de Sousa Pinga, Legendary Portuguese football player
• Alberto João Jardim, President of the Regional Government of Madeira
• Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, former Archbishop of Goa (in India)
• Cabral do Nascimento, Poet
• João Fernandes Vieira, Military
• Fátima Lopes, Fashion Designer
• Mark Athias, Investigator and Reformer
• Henrique Franco, Painter
• Victor Costa, Composer
• Pedro Camacho, Composer
• Jorge Borges, Jazz Pianist
• Eurico Martins, Famous Badolins Orchestra Conductor and Orchestrator

[edit] Gallery

Mercado dos Lavradores

Kathedrale Sé

Madeira Wine Lodge

[edit] External links

• Municipality official site
• Funchal in Google Maps
• Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver

	North: Santana	Northeast: Machico
West: Câmara de Lobos	Funchal	East: Santa Cruz
	South: Atlantic Ocean

Coordinates: 32°39′04″N, 16°54′35″W