Miradouro do Jardim Botânico

The lookout of the Madeira Botanical Garden, about three kilometres from the centre, at the top of the left bank of the João Gomes stream: a plunging view over the whole Funchal amphitheatre, a mosaic of colours edged by the sea. The garden occupies Quinta do Bom Sucesso, built in 1881 by the Reid family and opened to the public in 1960: about eight hectares, five of them landscaped, more than 2,000 exotic plants from every continent (some endangered in their home countries), an orchid area, lawns, an amphitheatre and a research and conservation section. Reaching the lookout means going through the garden's paid entrance (fee and hours: see the garden's own entry); the Jardim Botânico cable car arrives here from Monte.