The Funchal City Council distinguished, on Wednesday, October 7th, the winners of the 27th edition of the “Funchal Cidade Florida” contest. The initiative involved 41 participants, divided into six categories, aiming to enhance the municipality's green spaces, promote urban agriculture, and encourage civic participation in preserving the urban landscape.
At the ceremony, the councilor for the Environment portfolio, Paula Jardim Duarte, highlighted the collective dimension of the event and the participants' role in the city's enhancement. "Today we are not just here to hand out awards. We are here to celebrate a city that has flowers, greenery, beauty, and nature in its landscape," she stated, recognizing "the people who make this beauty a reality every day."
The 2026 edition featured 5 participants in Municipal Urban Gardens, 6 in Social Urban Gardens, 6 in Social Housing Gardens, 6 in Single-Family Gardens, 13 in Hotel Units, and 5 in Balconies, Windowsills, Terraces, and Stairways.
In the Municipal Urban Gardens category, José Luís Pereira Ferreira won the 1st prize, followed by Miguel José Gouveia Freitas (2nd) and Jorge Clemente Moura da Costa (3rd). In Social Urban Gardens, Miguel Xavier Gomes Fernandes took the 1st prize, with Arlindo José Sousa Fernandes in 2nd and Ana Maria Silva in 3rd.
In the Social Housing Gardens category, Ana Maria Silva received the 1st prize, Maria da Conceição E. Camacho Abreu the 2nd, and José Aveiro the 3rd. For Single-Family Gardens, Maria José de Jesus Sousa achieved the 1st prize, Maria Conceição de Sousa Costa Baptista the 2nd, and João Manuel da Silva the 3rd.
For Balconies, Windowsills, Terraces, and Stairways, the 1st prize went to Maria José Oliveira de Freitas, the 2nd to Custódia de Freitas Faria, and the 3rd to Fátima Maria Oliveira Freitas. Among Hotel Units, Jardins Vila Porto Mare won the 1st prize, the Pestana Carlton Hotel Madeira the 2nd, and the Savoy Palace the 3rd. The Savoy Signature also received the Quality Award.
Paula Jardim Duarte also highlighted the daily work of the municipal teams in maintaining green and public spaces, an effort "far from the spotlight" but visible to all. The councilor thanked all participants, regardless of their ranking, emphasizing that "not everyone can receive an award, but everyone has contributed to making Funchal more beautiful. And that, in itself, is already a victory."
The councilor called for the continuation of this collective involvement, inspiring to "plant more, care more, and value more," to leave "an even greener, more beautiful, and more welcoming Funchal" for future generations. The 27th edition of “Funchal Cidade Florida” thus reinforced public participation in the care and preservation of the city's green spaces.
