This is a very popular view point over looking Curral das Freiras, the Valley of the Nuns, and is a popular half day trip from Funchal.
The road didn’t arrive until 1959. Before then the only access to the valley was by a steep zig zagging path. It is a superb drive climbing up the side of the mountain with the road cut out on a narrow ledge. It is not for the faint hearted as the road can be quite narrow in places and there are blind bends… The only protection is a narrow concrete wall with additional small block on top.
There is a large car park with the usual cafe and large (and expensive) tourist shop. There are toilets and this was one of the few places on the island where we were charged 50c to use them.
There are good views from the cafe looking back towards the sea. It is worth following the well marked and easy trail for even better “views”:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CurralDasFreiras-2013.JPG down down to Curral das Freiras 2600’ feet below. Even at 10.30 much of the settlement was still in deep shade. Houses hug the hillside and are surrounded by terraced fields.
The village is now reached through a tunnel but the remains of the old road can still be seen cut out of the side of the hill.
Allow plenty of time here. I was on a bus rip and we only had 30 minutes which wasn’t long enough! Although it is popular and busy, most people don’t walk far so if you are prepared to walk along the trail, you can soon lose the crowds.
You can find all my pictures of Madeira “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/madeira/index.html
