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Funchal

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Funchal
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City (pop., 2001: 102,521), capital of the autonomous region of Madeira, Portugal. It lies on the southern coast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean, and it is the centre of industry, commerce, and communications for Madeira. Funchal was founded in 1421 by the Portuguese navigator João Gonçalves Zarco and later came under Spanish (1580 – 1640) and British (1807 – 14) control. The city's scenery and mild year-round climate attract many tourists.

For more information on Funchal, visit Britannica.com.

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Columbia Encyclopedia: Funchal
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Funchal (fūnshäl'), city (1991 pop. 109,957), capital of Funchal dist., on Madeira island, Portugal. A busy port exporting wines, fish, and fruit, it is best known for its beautiful setting and balmy climate, which make it a much-frequented resort. It has a late-15th-century cathedral and a convent church containing the tomb of João Gonçalves Zarco, who founded the city in 1421.

Dialing Code: The telephone dialing code for: Funchal, Portugal
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The country code is: 351
The city code is: 290

Local Time: Funchal, Portugal
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It is 5:41 AM, November 27, in Funchal (Portugal).

Wikipedia: Funchal
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Funchal
View of Funchal

Flag
Coat of arms
Country Portugal
Region Madeira Autonomous Region
Founded 15th century, 16th century as city
Government
 -  Presidente da Câmara Municipal do Funchal (President of the City Council of Funchal) Miguel Filipe Machado de Albuquerque (PSD)
Area
 - Land 76.25 km2 (29.4 sq mi)
 - Metro 277.32 km2 (107.1 sq mi)
Population
 - City 100,847
 - Density 1,323/km2 (3,426.6/sq mi)
 - Metro 186,929
 - Metro Density 674/km2 (1,745.7/sq mi)
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 - Summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)
Postal code 9000
Area code(s) 351 (Portugal) + 291 (Madeira)
Website [1] and [2]

Funchal (Portuguese pronunciation: [fũˈʃaɫ]), population 100,526[1], is the chief city of Madeira Island and the capital and largest city of the Madeira Autonomous Region, Portugal.

With its neighbouring boroughs (municipalities) of Câmara de Lobos, Santa Cruz, Machico and Ribeira Brava the town has over 150,000 inhabitants. It is the most populous Portuguese city outside mainland Portugal. The Funchal conurbation includes the cities of Funchal, Câmara de Lobos, Caniço and Santa Cruz, all on the south side of Madeira.

Funchal lies in a natural "amphitheatre", with gentle slopes beginning at the harbour and rising almost 1200 metres. This provides a natural shelter that attracted the first settlers. Funchal is a cosmopolitan and panoramic city, with parks, shops and hotels.

Funchal has been Madeira's capital for more than five centuries, and is said to have been named because of the abundance of fennel (funcho - in Portuguese) growing there.

The Funchal Municipality includes the Savage Islands (Ilhas Selvagens), a nature reserve 160 km (100 mi) south of Funchal.

A highway provides access to Câmara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava to the west, and Santa Cruz and Machico to the east.

Contents

History

Wiki letter w.svg
 Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (July 2008)

Funchal was founded by João Gonçalves Zarco in 1421 and was elevated to city status by King Manuel I of Portugal in 1508. 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.It was the port for Madeiran sugar and wine.

Harbour of Funchal

The harbour of Funchal is the busiest in Madeira. Cruise ships, boats and yachts call there, as it has been for many years, being also the second busiest one in Portugal, after Lisbon.

Airport

Madeira Airport, often known as Funchal Airport/Madeira/Santa Catarina Airport (code:FNC), is located east of the city, in the municipality of Santa Cruz. The airport was one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to the limited flat space in close proximity to cliffs, but the extension of the runway on concrete pillars in the sea has improved safety.

Parishes (Freguesias)

The municipality (Município) and city (Cidade) of Funchal coexist as one. Its urban area sprawls from the harbour on the Atlantic to the mountain and hills above. There are ten parishes/paroquias:

The most populated is Santo António. Sé is where the cathedral is located, in the old city center.

Funchal Diocese

The see of the Bishop (Diocese de Funchal) includes all of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

Climate

Weather data for Funchal
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 19.1
(66)		 19.1
(66)		 19.5
(67)		 19.6
(67)		 20.9
(70)		 22.3
(72)		 24.3
(76)		 25.6
(78)		 25.7
(78)		 24.2
(76)		 22.0
(72)		 20.0
(68)		 21.8
(71)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.1
(61)		 16.0
(61)		 16.2
(61)		 16.5
(62)		 17.7
(64)		 19.4
(67)		 21.1
(70)		 22.2
(72)		 22.3
(72)		 20.9
(70)		 18.8
(66)		 17.0
(63)		 18.6
(65)
Average low °C (°F) 13.1
(56)		 12.8
(55)		 13.0
(55)		 13.4
(56)		 14.6
(58)		 16.5
(62)		 18.0
(64)		 18.9
(66)		 18.9
(66)		 17.6
(64)		 15.6
(60)		 13.9
(57)		 15.5
(60)
Precipitation cm (inches) 10.27
(4)		 8.72
(3.4)		 6.36
(2.5)		 3.89
(1.5)		 1.89
(0.7)		 1.19
(0.5)		 0.25
(0.1)		 0.31
(0.1)		 3.67
(1.4)		 7.50
(3)		 10.08
(4)		 9.99
(3.9)		 64.12
(25.2)
Avg. precipitation days 12 11 10 8 5 3 1 2 6 9 11 13 91
Source: World Meteorological Organization (UN)[2].

Tourism

Today Funchal is a major tourist town, with hotels, port, and an international airport Funchal Airport (FNC), located in the nearby municipality of Santa Cruz.

Besides the city of Funchal, tourist destinations include: Ribeira Brava, Curral das Freiras, Porto Moniz, Santana, the Laurisilva forest, a UNESCO Natural Site, in the center of Madeira Island and the beaches in Porto Santo island. There is also a passenger gondola lift (Funchal Passenger Ropeway), that transports people from the lower section of the city to the suburb of Monte.

Famous Madeirans

Twin towns

Funchal is twinned with:

References

  1. ^ UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004 Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)
  2. ^ "Weather Information for Funchal". http://www.worldweather.org/003/c00005.htm. 

External links

Portugal portal
North: Santana Northeast: Machico
West: Câmara de Lobos
 Funchal East: Santa Cruz
South: Atlantic Ocean
v • d • e
Madeira Municipalities of the Madeira Autonomous Region
Madeira Island Flag of Madeira
Porto Santo Island
v • d • e
30 largest cities of Portugal by population

Coordinates: 32°39′04″N 16°54′35″W / 32.65111°N 16.90972°W / 32.65111; -16.90972


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