GET TOGETHER PARTY

“SALÃO NOBRE PAÇOS DO CONCELHO”

CITY HALL OF FUNCHAL

The first settlers arrived in Madeira between 1420 and 1425. Under the leadership of the 1st captain of Funchal, João Gonçalves Zarco, the first inhabitants soon had to organize themselves and set up a municipal centre, which later on, around 1453, would be elevated to Village, by King D. Afonso V charter.
When Duke D. Manuel became the administrator of the Order of Christ, and with the growth of Funchal through the income of the flourishing sugarcane production, it was decided to build a political and administrative centre. The chosen placed was Campo do Duque, where the first experiments as for the acclimatization of the sugarcane stocks brought from Sicily had been carried out. This space was set aside by the provision of 4 June 1485, which aimed for the construction of "a large church, a square and municipal house". The first construction to appear in the former Campo do Duque was the house of the municipal council, with the court for the notaries and the receiving rooms. The construction started around 1486 and was finished in 1491. Later, around 1500, the construction of the large Church started and in 1508, by letter of King D. Manuel, dated 21st August, the village of Funchal was raised to the category of city, the first of the vast Portuguese expansion on the 16th century. The old municipal installation of the 15th century, in time, was no longer suitable for the needs of a city such as Funchal. Thus, the seat of city government moved from one building to another and in the first half of the 19th century, it came to be installed in the palace where it still operates today.
The Nobel Salon which looks out over Praça do Município is decorated in the revivalist style of the 40's, with Baroque-style furnishings, displaying an important set of portraits of the last Kings of Portugal of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as an allegory of the Funchal City Council, executed by the Madeiran artist Alfredo Miguéis in 1940, who also did the painting on the ceiling of the central main hall.

CULTURAL VISIT- SIGHTSEEING SESSION

SIGHTSEEING SESSION HALF DAY TOUR: CABLE CAR (ONE WAY) | MONTE | TOBOGGAN | MADEIRA WINE
Trip by cable car from Funchal with beautiful views from the city, until Monte. Village in the suburbs of Funchal well known by the gardens and the Parish Church.

The famous sledge ride – toboggan will be made from Monte until Livramento.

One of Madeira Island most famous attraction are the famous sledge rides. These cars are made of wicker and wood, and have two seats. These sledges are powered by two carreiros, or sledge drivers wearing white uniforms and straw hats, who control this mean of transportation by making use of their boots as brakes. This journey takes place between Monte and Funchal and is done in about 10m. in a distance of 2 km, providing tourists with an experience filled with pure emotion. The “Monte sledge” In Madeira is a very special form of transport, made of basketwork. It’s an unmissable experience.

Visit To Madeira Wine Lodge ‐ Acquired in 1840 by Charles Ridpath Blandy, the Blandy's Wine Lodge has always been and is still an integral part of the production of Blandy's Madeira Wine. Located in the center of Funchal, Blandy's Wine Lodge allows visitors to Madeira an opportunity to experience first hand Madeira Wine in the making. Our tours will guide you through some of the history of the wine, its development and evolution, as well as the opportunity to taste the various styles of Madeira.

CONFERENCE DINNER – Surprise….