Eira do Serrado is a viewpoint at 1,095 m (Visit Madeira) on the rim of the valley that holds Curral das Freiras, a parish of Câmara de Lobos in the mountainous interior of Madeira. From the railing you look down onto the village on its valley-floor plateau, ringed by the peaks of the central massif. It is one of the easiest ways to see the island's interior without hiking.
What do you see from Eira do Serrado?
The view takes in the upper basin of the Ribeira dos Socorridos. According to the Regional Government's geosite record, the valley has two distinct parts: a wide, open headwater area and, further downstream, a narrow, deeply cut gorge. The village of Curral das Freiras sits on a flat platform inside the valley made of breccia left by a large landslide — which is why the houses look as if they stand on a shelf. The steep walls expose layers of the island's volcanic history.
How do you get to the viewpoint?
Visit Madeira describes access on foot by a path that starts next to the Estalagem da Eira do Serrado; the geosite record rates accessibility as easy, with the nearest paved road about 300 m away. It is reached by car on the road that climbs from Funchal towards Curral das Freiras. Bus timetables change; if you are travelling without a car, see our guide to getting around Madeira without a car.
Why is it called the "Nuns' Valley"?
Curral das Freiras means "corral of the nuns". The land belonged to the Santa Clara convent in Funchal by the end of the 15th century. A commonly told story links the name to 1566, when the nuns took refuge here during an attack on Funchal by French privateers; Wikipedia notes that sources disagree on which explanation is correct. The parish became independent on 17 March 1790. Until a road tunnel towards Funchal opened in 2004, access into the valley was difficult.
Key figures
| Viewpoint altitude | 1,095 m (Visit Madeira); 1,050 m in the geosite record |
| Curral das Freiras parish | 461 m altitude, 2,001 residents (2011), 25.03 km² |
| Protection | Part of the Natural Park of Madeira |
When is the best time to go?
The viewpoint is high enough to sit in cloud while Funchal is sunny, and cloud often builds over the central mountains as the day warms. A clear morning gives the best chance of seeing the valley floor. It can be noticeably colder and windier than on the coast, so take a layer.
Safety and what people misjudge
- Stay on the path and behind the railings: the drop into the valley is sheer.
- The road up is narrow and winding; allow more time than the distance suggests.
- The viewpoint itself is a short stop. If you want to see the village, drive or walk down into Curral das Freiras afterwards.
Nearby
Eira do Serrado pairs well with the coastal cliff at Cabo Girão, in the same municipality, for a "mountains and sea" half day. From Pico do Arieiro you can see Curral das Freiras from above on clear days. More options in the mountains region guide.
