Garden & culture · Monte, Funchal
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
Monte Palace Tropical Garden is one of Madeira’s best-known botanical and cultural attractions. Set high above Funchal in Monte, the 70,000-square-metre garden brings together exotic plants, lakes, historic Portuguese tiles, Asian-inspired design and museum collections.
History and character
The site began in the 18th century, when British consul Charles Murray created the Quinta do Prazer estate south of Monte Church. In 1897, Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues acquired the property and built a palace-like residence inspired by the castles he had seen along Germany’s Rhine. It later became the Monte Palace Hotel, but after closing it fell into decline. In 1987, Madeiran businessman, art collector and philanthropist José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo acquired the former hotel and transformed the estate into the garden visitors see today.
Why visit
- Around 100,000 plant specimens from Madeira and several continents
- Ponds, waterfalls, koi carp, swans, ducks and free-roaming peacocks
- Portuguese azulejo tiles dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries
- The 166-tile panel The Adventures of the Portuguese in Japan
- Japanese- and Chinese-inspired details, including lanterns, bridges and Buddhist statues
- A three-floor museum with minerals, semi-precious stones and contemporary Zimbabwean stone sculpture
- Views across Funchal Bay and the Atlantic from the hillside paths
Practical tip
Allow at least two to three hours. The garden is steep, with many paths and steps, so wear comfortable shoes. A cable car from Funchal is one of the most scenic ways to reach Monte.