Sé / Zona Velha (Old Town)

Funchal's flat, walkable historic heart where the cathedral, the Lavradores market and the painted-door bar district sit minutes from the harbour.

Updated May 22, 202610 min read

About Sé / Zona Velha (Old Town)

The Sé / Zona Velha is the cultural and social core of Funchal. The Manueline Sé Cathedral, the colourful Mercado dos Lavradores and the seafront Avenida do Mar anchor daily life, while Rua de Santa Maria's painted doors lead into Madeira's densest cluster of restaurants and bars. By night the Old Town is the island's nightlife centre; by day it fills with cruise passengers and the cable-car queue at nearby Almirante Reis. It remains the priciest place to buy in Funchal, and recent restrictions on new short-term-rental licences in apartment buildings are reshaping how investors approach it.

Location

Sé / Zona Velha (Old Town) in Funchal, Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal

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