Curral das Freiras & Eira do Serrado
Curral das Freiras
A village in a crater-like valley ringed by mountains, where the view from the Eira do Serrado lookout, over 1,000 m high, is breathtaking.
Curral das Freiras is a deep valley in the mountains of central Madeira. It takes its name from the nuns who fled here from pirates in the 16th century, and the surrounding cliffs rise more than a kilometre high. Start at the Eira do Serrado lookout (about 1,095 m above sea level): from the car park it's about a 5-minute walk to the viewpoint, which looks down on the white church and terraces in the valley below. Then drive, or walk the old trail for about an hour, down into the village, where you can taste chestnut pastries and cherry liqueur. It is about 20 km from Funchal, roughly 30 minutes by car, and bus 81 goes there.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo (PR1)
- Levada do Caldeirão Verde (PR9)
- Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint
- Câmara de Lobos
- Cabo Girão Skywalk
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden & Monte Toboggan
- Balcões Viewpoint
- Madeira Botanical Garden