City (pop., 2001: 102,521), capital of the autonomous region of Madeira , Portugal.
It lies on the southern coast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean, and it is the centre of industry, commerce, and communications for Madeira. Funchal was founded in 1421 by the Portuguese navigator João Gonçalves Zarco and later came under Spanish (1580–1640) and British (1807–14) control. The city's scenery and mild year-round climate attract many tourists.