Madeira’s Tropical Urban Paradise

Yesterday, we visited the Monte Palace Tropical Garden: an oasis just outside Funchal that features about 17 acres of manicured gardens.

I was expecting a relatively brief visit to a beautiful but small garden. But, no: this place is absolutely massive. We spent hours wandering around it.

The garden has a variety of structures from different cultures, particularly China and Japan.

We estimate that the garden has a dozen or so waterfalls – possibly more.

It is also home to some pretty strange art.

Aristocrat: “Can you carve me a person with the body of a cat?”
Sculptor: “Sure! Like a sphinx?”
Aristocrat: “Yes, but… hornier.”
Sculptor: ??
“With wings”.

Aristocrat: “Can you paint a scene of me with my men hunting some deer?”
Artist: “Absolutely, sir”
Aristocrat: “You… you know what a deer is, right?”
Artist, sweating: “Haha. Oh, totally”

When you reach a lookout onto the city, you know you’ve finally reached one of the garden’s edges.