Add a review about the Monte Palace

Palace and the tropical garden of Monte is a rare and worth visiting visit to Madeira, which refers not to natural, but to man-made. And this is really so: on such a beautiful island it's just a pity to waste time on buildings and museums, here you want to climb deep into the dizzying mountains, wander along the amazing, rugged edge of the surf, study the ancient relic forests, expecting to just stumble upon the cave of prehistoric man . But the Monte Palace is an exception.

On the map of the abandoned island far off the ocean, the palace appeared in the 18th century, when the local conscience was acquired by the British Consul Charles Murray . It was thanks to him that a beautiful estate appeared there, which he called Quinta do Prazher Quinta do Prazer) . Alfred Guillermo Rodrigues already buys it in 1897, which significantly rebuilds the estate . Being inspired by German castles from the far reaches of the Rhine, he orders to build a palace-residence, later converted into a hotel Monte Palace Hotel . В early 19th century This was one of the most fashionable and at the same time secluded places for recreation, many great worlds came here searching for peace and quiet .

But in the midst of World War II, in 1943, Senor Rodrigues dies, and his heirs subsequently do not want to continue profitable hotel business. The hotel is closed, it becomes the property of Caixa Económia do Funchal. After, in 1987, it is bought by the entrepreneur José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo, and on the map of the island again appears the amazing Monte Palace Tropical Garden - the tropical garden of the Monte Palace.

The palace has remained unchanged since the ancient times of Alfred Guillermo Rodrigues, but the park has dramatically changed the better side. Here planted amazing and rare for this strip plants from around the world, for example, heather from Scotland, azaleas from Belgium, laurels from the Canary Islands. Cedars, laurels and ferns, habitual for this area, also grow in abundance.
In the Tropical Garden of Monte, planted amazing and rare for this strip plants from around the world, for example, heather from Scotland, azaleas from Belgium, laurels from the Canary Islands.

Besides, in the Monte garden, two very beautiful artificial lakes . It is allegorically floated by black and white swans . The first personifies Australia and New Zealand, their bright meet - Iceland and Scandinavia . But the special piquancy of the park, which, incidentally, walks peacocks and fighting cocks from Indonesia, give every possible Stones, marble figures of dragons, ancient coats of arms, intricate niches and pagodas, sculptures and figures of Buddhas, lanterns from different parts of the world . And it's not just lumps or tasteless arbor-replica . Here you can see a collection of 15- 20 centuries, as well as a bizarre panel of 166 terracotta tiles called "The Adventures of the Portuguese in Japan" .

The three-story palace of Monte deserves a special mention. Today there is a museum in its walls, on two floors of which sculptures are exhibited, and on the third - a collection of minerals from different corners of the world. For example, the exhibition "African Passion" is famous for the modern sculpture of Zimbabwe (1966-1969 gg.). The exhibition "Mother Nature Secrets" demonstrates one of the best collections of minerals from Brazil, Portugal, South Africa, Zambia, Peru, Argentina

Another attraction of the Monte Palace is a natural observation deck at an altitude of 600 m, with a magnificent view of Funchal and the leaden-azure Atlantic Ocean
Palace and garden Monte

Coordinates

Address: Caminho do Monte, 174, Funchal. Phone: +351 291 780 800.

How to get there: there are two scenic ways to be in one of the most beautiful gardens in Portugal. The first - by cable car, on the road for about 20 minutes, the fare 10 EUR one way, round-trip 15 EUR. The second option is for cars or buses No. 20, 21, 22 and 48 (travel 2 EUR). Moreover, they say that on the usual road the species are no less exciting than from the cabin of the cable car. The park leads several entrances - by the cable car, and by the bus stop.

The cost of visiting the park is 10 EUR (including wine tasting on the terrace), children under 15 years old are free of charge. On the powerful paths of the park you can ride on a small trailer, which will cost another 4 EUR. In the palace-museum you can go for free (but to get into them bypassing the garden and 10 EUR is impossible). Another local fun is the descent from the park down on the wicker sleigh, which will be pushed to the serpentine by two hefty peasants. Safe, but the increase in adrenaline in the blood is ensured, the cost is 25 EUR.

Opening hours of the garden: every day from 9:30 to 18:00, the museum from 10:00 to 16:30.