I wanted to see Nuns Valley from above so one afternoon, we wound our way up and around the mountains Miradouro Eira do Serrado. At an altitude of 1095 metres, the viewpoint offers an unobstructed view of the parish of Curral das Freiras, otherwise known as Nuns Valley, which is surrounded by the grandeur of Madeira’s characteristic lush green mountains.
With its unique location, deep within a valley resembling a volcano crater, this parish is one of the most picturesque places on Madeira, framed by the imposing presence of the mountain peaks that shelter the town.
With a population of around 2000, the town was named after the Nuns of the Santa Clara Convent who, in 1566, found this to be the ideal refuge when pirates attacked Funchal. The reason being that Curral das Freiras is one of the few places on the island that was not visible from the sea, hidden by the surrounding mountains. Smart Nuns.
After visiting the viewpoint, we wound our way down the mountainsides into the village for a visit.
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