Madeira Island & Calatayud

The Cities

Funchal is the capital city of Madeira and the sixth largest city in Portugal. Its name literally means “place/plantation of fennel”, but nowadays it is a lively city that perfectly captures the nature that surrounds it, 600 years of history, amazing culinary, and an incredible culture.

From many parts of cities you can have breathtaking views, with its crooked little streets that go down the mountains and the blue ocean.

The east part of the city, traditionally the fishermen neighborhood, is where you will find the Mercado dos Lavradores, a huge and full of life market with the best homegrown vegetables, fresh fish, and wonderfully scented flowers.

The Old Town of Calatayud treasures interesting monuments like the palaces of Aragonese style, of the XVI and XVII centuries, or churches such as the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, which has an impressive plateresque façade made of alabaster that leaves everyone open-mouthed. It is a World Heritage Site since 2001 and inside it has a spectacular cloister of Mudejar art.

About 4 kilometers from Calatayud are the archaeological remains of what was once the Roman city of Bilbilis. There is evidence that there was a great activity in the first century, at the time of Julius Caesar Augustus.

From Calatayud, it is easy to visit the Monasterio de Piedra, an authentic 13th-century Cistercian monastery where history is present in every room, as well as a spectacular 19th century Historical Garden Park, with countless waterfalls and lush flora.