Monte (Funchal)

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Monte (Portuguese for mountain) is a parish in the district and a suburb of Funchal in the Madeira Islands (Portugal). The parish is also known as Nossa Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of Monte).

The population in 2001 was 7,444, with a 399.1/km² populational density, and an area of 18.65 km². Monte is located a few kilometres east of Funchal and is near the road linking Funchal and Faial. Monte is between 600 and 800 m above sea level.

The main church is called Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte (1741), and is the burial place of Emperor Charles I of Austria, last of the Habsburg rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who died in exile on 1st April 1922. His last residence on the island was the Quinta do Monte close to the above church.

1 Nearest parishes
2 Geography
3 Transportation
4 External links

[edit] Nearest parishes

Faial, north?
Ilha, north
São Roque, southwest

[edit] Geography

Location:
- Latitude: 32.667 (32°40') N
- Longitude: 16.9 (16°54') W
Altitude:
- Lowest: approximately 200 m
- Centre: 314 m (1,033 ft)

[edit] Transportation

Between 1893 and 1943, the Monte was connected to Funchal trough Madeira's only cog rail, which used to carry guests and passengers between Funchal and Monte and to Terreiro da Luta at 867 m above sea level.

Presently, Monte can be accessed by gondola lift, which was first opened nearly 100 years after the opening of the cog railway. The departing station is located at Parque Almirante Reis in downtown Funchal. The length of the cable car line and the height difference is between 560 m and 3,718 m long and the trip is only 15 min. The line has over 39 cabs with 8 seats each carrying 800 passengers per hour.

Probably the most popular feature of Monte for the visitor today is the toboggan run. This enables visitors to be transported downhill through the streets at fairly high speeds in large wicker baskets, conducted by two drivers wearing the traditional white uniform with straw boater hat.