We visit many botanical gardens each year, but the one that impressed us the most is the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. High above Funchal on Madeira Island, the gardens incorporate art, Portuguese tile works, a lake, and museums dedicated to modern African art from Zimbabwe and minerals from all over the world. There are Oriental gardens and Koi ponds, peacocks screeching and displaying, placid ponds with swans and more.
But the experience is not just about gardens. How you get there is spectacular as well, from the areal tramway from downtown Funchal on the way up, to a hair-raising ride down on a wicker sledge (optional!) You might sit back for an elegant lunch (or stay overnight) at the elegant and evocative Quinta do Monte hotel. See it all in our picture gallery. The order we did things is the order of the pictures as you see them below.
Images 1-12 of 12
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