Things to do in Curral das Freiras

Curral das Freiras sits at the bottom of a volcanic amphitheatre in Madeira's mountain interior, ringed by peaks that block the sun for much of the morning. Nuns from Santa Clara convent are said to have sheltered here during 16th-century pirate raids, giving the village its name, the 'Valley of the Nuns'.

The Eira do Serrado viewpoint above the village, at around 1,000 metres, is the classic vantage point, reached by a short walk from its car park rather than a drive into the valley itself. The village is known regionally for chestnuts, harvested in autumn, and for licor de castanha, a chestnut liqueur sold in small bars and shops along the main street.

Bring a jumper even in summer: the valley floor stays shaded and noticeably cooler than Funchal.