One of the most colourful streets of Funchal, Santa Maria street is a loving art project of local artists. Over 200 doors are plastered with eye-popping paintings of all kinds. Walk down this narrow cobbled street and perhaps take a break in one of the many rustic restaurants and cafes.

Once a year, generally in the first week of September, Bird & Nature week participants will be invited in small groups to help catch Abbott’s Boobies high in the rainforest canopy, assist to colour-band Brown Boobies and monitor their colonies on the remote and secluded rocky coasts. Participants will work with our internationally renowned guides to study the nesting biology and foraging ecology of Christmas Island Frigatebirds and Red-tailed Tropicbirds. Depending on interest and demand, there will also be opportunities to assist in the colour-banding of Christmas Island Goshawks, a Christmas Island Hawk-Owl survey, seabird identification workshops, territory mapping of Island Thrushes and closer looks at the island’s other wildlife. Nightly pre-dinner seminars will showcase the results of all the seabird research, the status of the endemic landbirds, the rarities of Christmas Island, and the marine and terrestrial ecology of the island.

The North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial honours 2,841 WWII soldiers who fell during the often-overlooked North African campaign. Spread across 27 acres, their headstones align in nine precise plots, divided by paths meeting at decorative pools. The chapel and memorial court feature mosaic maps detailing American military operations across Africa to the Persian Gulf. Their design blends seamlessly with local architecture, creating a space of quiet reflection.

Under one roof, the Pinakothek der Moderne hosts four museums that emphasise modernity: the Sammlung of Contemporary Art, the Neue Sammlung of International Design, the Architecture Museum der TU München, and the Staatliche Graphic Sammlung. Together, they offer a diverse range of exhibitions and collections, catering to visitors of all backgrounds and interests.