Riding the Funchal, Madeira Cable Car

The Funchal Cable Car (Teleférico do Funchal), also called the Madeira Cable Car, is a gondola that transports us from the lower section of Funchal, Madeira to the elevated suburb of Monte.  The cable car began service in 2000, replacing the Monte Railroad (which ran from 1886 to 1943), with the bottom station located in central Funchal near the sea.  The ride takes around 15 minutes to bring us up 560 meters (1,837 feet).  The line waiting for the cable car extends down the street and so we wander through the city, have lunch, then catch the cable car in mid-afternoon when we can basically walk right on.

Cable car line

Cable car over the city

Boarding the car

View from the top, welcome to Monte 

We exit the cable car and walk over to the Babosas Chapel, built in the early 20th century to be the center of the jubilee celebrations of the island of Madeira.  The chapel was completely destroyed in a storm in February 2010 and was rebuilt in 2022.

Babosas Chapel

From the chapel, we walk down the street to the start of the Funchal toboggan (Carreiros do Monte), a unique and historic wicker sledge ride in which toboggans slide down the winding streets with only the boots of the men steering the sleds for brakes.  Originally a fast transport method in the 19th century, the steep ride down the public streets is now principally a tourist attraction.

Original toboggan use

Riding the toboggan

Up the hill from the toboggan ride is the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte (Church of our Lady of the Mount) overlooking the city, with great views and beautiful gardens leading down.

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte

Views of Funchal

Gardens below the church

Returning to lower Funchal on the cable car, we find two boats on display near the station, the Mosquito, built in England in 1900 to provide service between ships and the city quay, and the Aquila Airwais, also built in England under the direction of  T. E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, and used for coastal patrols and training of RAF pilots.

Mosquito and Aquila Airwais

We wander along the sea, returning to the port and to our ship, passing many roasted chestnut stands along the way (12 for 3 euros).

Roasted chestnuts

We're still enjoying our days in Funchal!