Santa Catarina Park, Funchal, Madeira

Santa Catarina park is located on the western outskirts of Funchal, overlooking the harbour. The main entrance is opposite the Rotunda do Infante.

The open grassland stretches up a slight incline to a pond, recreation facilities and a refreshments area.

The official residence of the President of the Regional Government of Madeira, a large pink building, overlooks the green slopes. Here, the Quinta das Angústias, Estate/Farm of Angústias, previously stood.

Santa Catarina covers some 36,000 square metres in area. It has a formal central lawn area. Surrounding this is a network of pathways that wind their way around numerous flower beds.

Tropical and sub-tropical flowers, shrubs and trees collected from all around the world have been brought to Funchal to be planted here.

The gates are open at 7:30 in the morning and are due to close daily at 9:00 in the evening - although it is not unusual for them to be left open later than this.

Santa Catarina Park is a treasure of Funchal ofter overlooked by visitors to Madeira. It is situated close enough to Funchal city centre to be within easy walking distance. However, despite its proximity, it offers a lazy tranquillity that any holiday maker should enjoy.

It is an unpretentious open space that is as popular with the locals as it is with those visitors to Madeira who are lucky enough to discover it.

Here you will not be bothered by timeshare touts, nor by any of the usual tourist commercialism that is elsewhere in Funchal. Instead, if you care to take the time to linger, you will find a diversity of flower and tree species.

In addition, there is a selection of statues and buildings that convey the historical foundations of the location. Oh, and keep an eye out for an assortment of wild fowl and lizards.

Among the facilities available are the following:

• Benches aplenty to sit and rest
• Café refreshments with outdoor seating
• Chapel of Santa Catarina (usually closed)
• Children's enclosed play area
• Christopher Columbus statue
• Grass area that is large and wide
• Henry The Navigator statue
• Presidential Residence gardens access nearby
• Pond with fountain
• Viewing area overlooking Funchal Harbour

Nun fun in the sun...

On one visit we made to Santa Catarina Park in January 1999, we were entertained by a rather comical occurrence. A group of children had been brought to the open grass slopes by a number of supervising nuns, presumably a class from a church school.

The makeshift goalposts were arranged and a game of football began. Rather than just watch the game from the sidelines, or even be content refereeing, the nuns decided it was an opportunity too good to miss. So, four or five nuns started running up and down the slopes and joined in the game. There was something rather surreal in watching a nun, running full throttle, habit flailing behind, administering an almighty kick to a football.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a camera with us!

Santa Catarina Park is the perfect location to while away the odd hour or two. In the words from a popular song "...stroll around the grounds until you feel at home..."

There are plenty of flower and shrub species to discover as they have been collected from all over the world to be planted here.

Depending on the time of year, amongst many others, you can see:

The orange Lion’s tail (Leonotis leonorus); the vivid red Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) - a sure sign of Christmas; various Hibiscus flowers; Bogainvilla, the Jacaranda trees (springtime bloom and widespread in Funchal); and, various palm trees.

In particular, keep a lookout for the iconic Bird of Paradise flower, the national flower of Madeira.

Take time out for some refreshments at the café located near the top. The outdoor tables are situated in the perfect spot to enjoy a drink while you look out across the pond toward Funchal.

Try to choose a time when the fountains are turned on. The sun will likely be playing sparkling rainbow games with the fine spray.

There can surely be nothing more relaxing than to sip on a cool drink whilst watching the wildfowl lazily swimming and hearing the tumble of water.

Wander down from the top of Santa Catarina parque. Choose the right hand side path that is closest to the coastline. Part way down you will reach a viewing platform. From here you can look out across Funchal Harbour and along the seafront promenade. In the distance, along the Madeira coast, is the Garajau headland.

This stretch of roadway is always busy. It encompasses the Avenida Sa Carneiro, where the old commercial port of Funchal once was, along to the Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades. Usually, at least one luxury liner will be in port.

If you have young children, then take them to the enclosed children's playground. This is located toward the top, on the coastal side of Santa Catarina Park. You can't miss it, it has a multi-colour wood pole fence.

You could also bring some stale bread along with you. Children can spend a lovely 20 minutes or so feeding the ducks and swans.

Right at the top of the grounds there is an old, somewhat rusty tractor. Whilst children may find this interesting, there is something more alluring close by. Here, there is a layout of a road complex, designed for carts but rarely used by them. I have seen children spending a good deal of time running around the layout - undoubtedly imagining that they are a Formula One racing driver competing in the Funchal Grand Prix!

The original Chapel of St. Catherine in Santa Catarina Park was built in 1425. It was commissioned by Constança Rodriguez, the wife of João Gonçalves Zarco. It has given its name, Santa Catarina, to the grounds. The chapel as we see it today, dates from the 17th century.

The chapel occupies a terrace from which you can get good views of Funchal harbour. The porch is the main feature from outside. There is also a holy water font which has engravings of maritime symbols.

The chapel is usually closed to the general public.

Originally, the grounds of the Estate, in which the Chapel stands, housed a Portuguese cemetery. This was opened in 1841.

Previous to this cemetery opening, interments took place in the Sé Cathedral and other churches. On the church floors, inscription plates were abundant, giving details of the tombs underneath.

The cemetery in the Angústias grounds was said to possess a simple beauty and neatness. Containing many "chaste tombs neatly enclosed, and embosomed in flowers".

The main cemetery for Funchal was relocated in 1939.

The Quinta Vigia that overlooks the top of Santa Catarina Park, is the official residence of the President of the autonomous regional government of Madeira.

Originally, the entire area occupied by the Santa Catarina parque, the Presidential residence, the conference centre and the grounds of the Pestana Casino Park Hotel, were all part of same Funchal estate. This estate was known as the Quinta das Angústias because in its grounds was the chapel Nossa Senhora das Angústias, or the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrow.

The the grounds in front of the quinta were developed from 1946 onwards and the Municipality of Funchal assumed responsibility for them in 1966. For more details see our Quinta Vigia history guide.

The grounds to the rear where the original Quinta das Angústias stood are now occupied by the Pestana Casino Park Hotel, its gardens and conference centre.

Views of the pond

Pathway and steps leading down through the park

View across Funchal and Statue of Henry the Navigator

Santa Catarina pond and its water fowl

By Foot:-

Santa Catarina Park is located on the western outskirt of Funchal. From anywhere within Funchal, head for the seafront. Here you will pick up a promenade that stretches the length of the Funchal city. Head west towards the harbour. One entrance to the Santa Catarina grounds is a flight of stairs that start at the Rotunda Sá Cameiro.

The main entrance is about 20 metres inland from the Funchal seafront. It is located adjacent to the Rotunda do Infante. Here a statue of Henry the Navigator is framed in a stone arch. Again, there is a flight of steps that lead up into the grounds.