Jesuit College of Funchal

Meet your guide at Jesuit's College of Funchal, Madeira University to begin this 2-hour guided walking tour of Funchal. Learn how the history of Madeira and Funchal shaped the city centre as you visit the most important points of interest. Travel down the 19th century public walkway between the Municipal Theatre and the Cathedral, where sugarcane was first planted in Madeira, during the 15th century. Explore the city’s medieval heart dating from the Golden Age of Sugar and discover the beautiful 17th century religious monuments. Visit the ruins of the old Pilory Square and other remnants from past floods and the area damaged by the Great Fire of Funchal in 1584. This tour helps to support students at the University of Madeira who are facing financial difficulties.  

Join a former student of the University of Madeira, or a volunteer of the university's Erasmus Madeiran Heritage program, and get fascinating explanations about the cultural history of the island and its importance to the historical trade routes of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Learn more about some of the famous visitors to Madeira and what they contributed to the island. Explore the wine-making industry and its impact on global history, and visit emblematic buildings, such as the 15th-century Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. Go to the Old Customs House, built at the height of Madeira's importance to the sugar industry, and discover one of the oldest tourist centers.

Explore the city of Funchal individually and at your own pace, with time for photos, shopping or a rest at a cafe. You will hear information about history, architecture and life in Funchal from an experienced tour guide on your smartphone. The tour for cruise guests starts directly at the port and leads along the waterfront towards the city center. On the way you will learn exciting stories about the discovery of the island of Madeira and pirate raids. It goes past the Sao Laurence Palace into the city park of Funchal. Here you can take a short break in the shade of the trees. Right next door you can buy the famous Madeira wine in Blandey's Weinlodge - a nice reminder of the island. You then continue to follow the boulevard of the city and soon you are in front of the cathedral. On the way to the large market hall you will repeatedly come across the Calcada pavements, which show scenes from the history of Portugal and other motifs. The fish hall and the vegetable market are two highlights of the market hall. Rua Santa Maria with its brightly painted doors begins just below the market hall. The many restaurants and bars invite you to take a short break. The poncha, a typical Madeiran drink, is also offered in many bars. The tour takes in many more historical buildings and squares and ends at Santa Catarina Park just above the harbor.