The picturesque village of Curral des Freiras lies in the valley of the same name, or rather in a place resembling a deep volcanic crater surrounded by forested peaks of steep mountains.
The valley floor is not flat, so the village is built on terraces in the steep slopes. The villages in the valley have been cut off from the outside world for a long time, supposedly by nuns fleeing pirate raids during the 16th century.
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Orchards of walnuts, chestnuts and grapes cover the hillsides, three crops that largely feed the local population.
In Madeira, the village is famous for its production of chestnut liqueurs and gastronomic specialties. Today, Curral des Freiras is connected to the outside world by a long road tunnel, whereas previously it was only accessible by a mountain footpath over the Eira do Serrado saddle
And it is the Eira do Serrado pass that is the main attraction. The viewpoint at over 1,000 metres above sea level offers an incredible view of the village and the surrounding massifs far below. The path to the summit from Curral das Freiras is a well-maintained walkway and runs for about 2.7 km in one direction. Alternatively, you can reach it directly by car from the other side of Funchal.
Accommodation
If you're looking for accommodation that's a little bit cut off from the rest of the world in breathtaking scenery, but also in a village full of restaurants and basic facilities, you've just stumbled upon a dream location.
Curral das Freiras offers just a handful of apartments and one really nice and fairly inexpensive spa hotel Eira do Serrado - Hotel & Spa situated at the top of the Eira do Serrado.
Transportation to Curral das Freiras
By car you can reach the village through a long tunnel (it's 13 km from Funchal), or directly to the viewpoint of Eira do Serrado. Parking is free at both places and the village and the viewpoint are well signposted.
The centre of the village of Curral das Freiras, as well as the Eira do Serrado viewpoint, can also be reached by bus line 81 of the Funchal public transport system.
There are only a few stops at Eira do Serrado, but even so, usually at least once every 2 hours. There are 1 service to the village per hour on weekdays and about 5 times a day on weekends. You can find out more at horariosdofunchal.pt.
What to see around
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