Monte Palace Tropical Garden, Monte, Funchal, Madeira
Monte Palace Tropical Garden in the Monte district of Funchal is another beautiful garden on Madeira. It is located a short distance north of the equally impressive Madeira Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico da Madeira).
This large garden is on several levels and includes ponds and cascades, exotic trees and plants as well as a mineral museum.
History
The garden was established by the wealthy businessman and art collector José Berardo (who also founded the excellent Berardo Collection Museum in the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon).
Monte has long been the home of prosperous families who built their mansions on the slopes. In the 18th century the English Consul Charles Murray first acquired the land which was later purchased by Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues in the late 19th century. He built what is now Monte Palace and created the Monte Palace Hotel. The building and land was in turn purchased by José Berardo in 1987.
Layout
The garden includes two authentic Oriental gardens, one Chinese and one Japanese with references to the Age of Discovery that took Portuguese adventurers to both countries.
The Oriental gardens were inspired by Berardo's visits to China and Japan. They include stone lanterns and Buddha statues, Shinto torii gates, pagodas as well as a collection of of ceramic tiles depicting the Portuguese presence in Japan. The Portuguese were the first Westerners to set foot in Japan bringing with them the technology of firearms.
Other tiles in the garden date from the 15th century until the present. The modern tile panels, a series of 40, are by Argentinian artist Alberto Cedrón on the theme of Portuguese history including the Portuguese monarchy, subsequent republics and the 1974 Revolution.
Various other art pieces decorate the gardens including some historic Manueline window frames as well as more modern works.
The varied flora of garden includes cycads from South Africa, as well as endemic plants from Madeira - Canary Laurel, dragon trees, mahogany and Pride of Madeira among them.
Wildlife in the garden includes koi carp as well as ducks and swans in the ponds, plus wandering peacocks in the grounds.
The museum within the Monte Palace building is on three floors. Two floors are dedicated to sculpture and one to a collection of minerals. The sculptures include African Passion - over 1,000 Zimbabwean figures from the 1960s. The ground mineral collection exhibits specimens from Argentina, Brazil, North America, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, and Zambia. Precious gems, such as diamonds can also be seen.
Accommodation
If you visit to stay in this area of Madeira, there are several possibilities, often guesthouses or apartments.
Try Quinta do Bom Sucesso or Villa Henriques.
See here for a complete listing of apartments in and around Funchal.
Access
Monte Palace
9050-288 Funchal
Madeira
Tel: 291 211 200
www: montepalace.com
Admission is 12.50 Euros for adults.
Hours: the garden is open daily from 9.30 am until 6 pm; closed on December 25. The museum is open from 10 am until 4.30 pm.
The garden can be reached on the spectacular cable car (teléferico) which stops at the main entrance.
By bus from Funchal take any of buses 20, 21, 22 or 48. There are reduced services on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. On weekdays the number 20 bus runs from 6.45 am from Centro until 11.15 pm.
It is possible to return to Livramento from Monte on a unique form of transport - a wickerwork sledge (carro de cesto) on wooden runners pushed by two carreiros, or sledge drivers. From Livramento take bus number 19 back to central Faro or it is a 30-minute walk downhill.
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