A big fortress overlooks Funchal. We spotted it on our walk yesterday so this morning we thought we’d take a look.

We got a taxi from our hotel, but there’s still quite a bit of climbing to get up to the ramparts.

Great views down to the port.

To save me some typing…

Nice old picture.

The interior of the fortress could perhaps do with a fresh coat of paint, but the peeling decor somehow adds to the atmosphere.

We walk down towards town, and call in at the Quinta das Cruzes museum. It holds a vast collection of works of art, but that’s not all that makes it special. This estate has a strong historical connection with the city of Funchal, as it was the residence of the family of João Gonçalves Zarco, the Portuguese explorer who originally discovered Madeira in 1419.

We walk on, and arrive at the site of the former Torreão sugar factory.

The factory was founded by William Hinton & Co. in 1856. The plant was originally powered by water, but as this was scarce in summer, a steam engine was installed. As can be seen from the casting, it was made in Glasgow.

At its peak in the 1920s the factory could produce over 500 tons of sugar in 24 hours, and it was considered one of the most productive in the world. The factory closed in the 1980s and the site is now the Gardens of Santa Luzia. Hinton’s company lives on however, as a major manufacturer of rum in Madeira.

A good day out. Everything we visited today was free of charge.