Quinta da Bela Vista
Article added on January 10, 2013
  
The island of Madeira is a jewel in the Atlantic Ocean. In 2013, the lovely Quinta da Bela Vista was among the hotels I had the pleasure to visit.

The Funchal hotel is situated in a 25,000 square meter subtropical garden, which underwent improvements when I stayed there. In addition to indigenous trees and plants, Quinta da Bela Vista offers botanical species from Australia, China, Japan and South America, including paulownia and hibiscus. The largest tree in the hotel garden is a Kapok Tree from Brazil with a bulbous, spiked trunk.

The owner and general manager of Quinta da Bela Vista, Gonçalo d'Ornellas Monteiro, told me that he grew up in the historic manor house dating back to 1844, which is the place to stay in the hotel.

In 1989, the family turned their manor house into Madeira's first luxury hotel situated in an authentic Quinta. In addition, they built two new buildings. I stayed in one of the new buildings, in Deluxe Room 350 with a marble bathroom and a balcony facing the backside of the garden. If you have the chance, stay in the original Quinta building.

The Manor House with its four junior suites on the upper floor is simply wonderful. Book well in advance! On the ground floor, you can find a restaurant, a drawing room, a library and - not to miss - a public bathroom with gorgeous, ancient Portuguese tiles; unfortunately, I have no photograph of this gem.

The superior rooms in the new, main building all offer small balconies with a table and two chairs with a great view over the pool area and the Bay of Funchal. Only the white bathrooms are small and not so sexy.

A great place to stay in the Penthouse Suite in the main, new building, above the reception. It features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, ideal for families or two couples. It comes with a large terrace overlooking the pool area and the Bay of Funchal.

Don't miss the intimate, cozy Pool Bar on two floors with its electric piano. It is situated next to the 15-meter, fresh water pool, overlooking the Bay of Funchal and the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to the swimming pool, the hotel offers a Jacuzzi, a sauna, an outdoor-gym as well as a tennis court. You can stay fit at Quinta da Bela Vista!

It is worth wandering around the public areas of the hotel's three buildings. You can discover all kinds of art works, furniture and paintings. Quinta da Bela Vista is the dream of any antiques lover!

I fondly remember two 17th century, Italian school angels hanging in the reception area. On the way to my room (350) in one of the new buildings, I always admired two large-scale paintings. According to General Manager Gonçalo d'Ornellas Monteiro, they are attributed to Nicolas L.A. Delariva (1755-1818). In the garden wing, next to room 101, hangs a Spanish Louis XV-style guiltwood Trumeau Mirror and a 19the century, painted panel with a river landscape in the manner of Lancret. The Manor House features, among many other gems, an early 18th century, William and Mary walnut cabinet-on-chest with a molded frieze and a cushion-shaped drawer as well as a pair of George III mahogany side chairs, possibly by Wright & Elwick.

In short, Quinta da Bela Vista offers a pleasant, historic atmosphere, especially in the Manor House.

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The bathroom of Suite 411. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.




View of a twin Superior Room. The best room in the main building is the Suite. With two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living room and a spacious terrace above the hotel entrance. The Suite is ideal for two couples or a family with children. The standard rooms in the main building feature small balconies. large enough for breakfast, with a nice view, but the white bathrooms are relatively small and not very exciting. My favorite rooms are clearly the four Junior Suites in the historic manor house. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


Details make a difference / Antiques create a welcoming atmosphere. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


The balcony of a Superior Room such as mine (350) with garden view. They are substantially larger than the ones in the main building, but without the view over the pool and Funchal. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


A garden view. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.

The modern, main building of Quinta da Bela Vista. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista. Books about the island of Madeira from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de. Books about Portugal from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de.


The place to be is the pool area, with a small gym and a bar building on two floors, offering great views on the upper floor. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


A Junior Suite in the historic Manor House, where you should stay to get the real Quinta feeling. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


The drawing or public living room on the ground floor of the historic Quinta. Have a look at the public bathroom next door with Portuguese tiles! Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of it. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista. - Books about Madeira from Amazon.de, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk.


Antiques are on display in all buildings. A walk around all public areas is highly recommended to all antique lovers! Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


Avisto Navios (mainly) breakfast restaurant. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


Bela Vista restaurant in the old Quinta. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista. Books about the island of Madeira from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de. Books about Portugal from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de.


A Deluxe Room bathroom as in my room 350, which featured a balcony towards the garden. Not the best room, not the best view, but OK. For the real Quinta feeling, go for one of the four Junior Suites in the historic Quinta, where the owner and general manager grew up. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


The garden in front of the main building. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista.


The main building by night seen from the hotel pool. Photos Copyright © Quinta da Bela Vista. Books about the island of Madeira from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de. Books about Portugal from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de.