Funchal, Portugal is a stunning city of more than 100,000 residents on Madeira Island located about 800 kilometres west of Morocco.

Just east of Funchal in Santa Cruz is Madeira Airport (FNC) which sometimes is referred to as Funchal or Santa Catarina Airport. The airport which handles flights most frequently from TAP-Air Portugal, TAM Linhas Aereas, and Spanair has won an "Outstanding Structures Award" for its doubling of the runway via a 70 meter tall extension into the ocean.

Cristiano Ronaldo, a brilliantly skilled footballer, in 2010 was the highest paid football player in the world and is one of Funchal's most notable natives.

Funchal is a very popular port for cruise ships due to its beauty and excursions.

Many visitors enjoy scuba diving, whale-watching, swimming with dolphins, paragliding, and playing golf.

If faced with rainy weather and outside activities are not an option, consider a visit to Blandy's Wine Lodge Tours last just under an hour and at its conclusion sample the different Madeiran wines available .