The village of Curral das Freiras (Nun's Valley), set at the bottom of a huge cauldron of rock, is one of the most popular day trips from Funchal, and is home to that typical Madeiran combination of awe-inspiring mountain scenery, an easy-going walk, local specialties and welcoming locals. The village is known for its chestnuts and a cherry liquor called ginja , drunk across the island from shot glasses made of dark chocolate. It's just a short (but almost vertical) bus ride from the bustle of Funchal's seafront.
A scenic way to approach Curral das Freiras is to take the bus to the lookout point at Eira do Serrado, 1094m above sea level and hike down from there. Enjoy the truly astounding views down to the valley floor around 700m below before taking the downhill path from behind the hotel and souvenir stalls; a popular hike, the 4.5km route is downhill until the very last section along the road, mostly on rounded steps. Along the way there, high outcrops of volcanic rock make excellent picnic halts, and interesting flora such as eucalyptus trees and camphor plants scent the air.
The village has several spots to sample some local specialties. The local chestnuts are harvested between October and January, but are available all year round as an ingredient in soup, bread, biscuits, cakes, liquors and sweets. The village even holds a chestnut festival (Festa da Castanha) in early November and 'exports' its products to the tourist hotspots of Funchal.
Also worth a visit is the pretty Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Livramento, interesting for its cliff-edge position just off the main road. Around Curral das Freiras are remote-feeling settlements where locals grow vegetables in ever steepening gradients the further up the valley you progress. A demanding hike heads straight up the side of a mountain from north of the village, linking in with the Encumeada–Boca do Corrida trail.
