Largo dos Varadouros

In the 17^th and 18^th century this square represented the commercial centre as well as the main entrance gate of the town. After the terrible attack of French pirates in 1566, fortification and defence of the island were the main interests of the ruling power and the inhabitants of Funchal. Therefore, walls with only five gates were built around the city for protection, and the rivers nearby served as a moat.

This was the reason why the Largo dos Varadouros gained a special importance for the city at the end of the 16^th century. But due to urbanisation and redefinition of Funchal’s defence interests in the 19^th century, the walls lost almost all military interests, and big parts of it were ceded by the military and later destroyed.

None of the gates survived, not even the main entrance gate to the Largo dos Varadouros.