Mystical Nun’s Valley: History & Flavors
Take a self-guided tour through Nun’s Valley, where nuns once hid and chestnuts now rule. Taste beer, bread, soup, and liqueur while uncovering mountain legends — a mix of history and flavor.
Includes
• Nun's Valley Viewpoint • Nun's Valley Town • Chestnutmuseum • Bico dos Barcelos (It covers roughly 16 km and takes around 4 hours, including all the scenic stops along the way.)
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Recommended: • Light Jacket • Madeira Island Pass (for discounts) • Mobile data • Brakefast at Hotel
Your Guide
Banana Joe the All-Knowing
Disclaimer
Most of our self-guided tours are exclusive to Island Pass holders — available in both Digital and Printed versions. Once you grab your Pass, you’ll get a special password that instantly unlocks all our tours across Madeira. 🎧✨
The only self-guided tour you can try for free is the “Taste & Tales of Funchal City Walk.” It’s the perfect way to see how our tours work — fun, easy to follow, and full of stories, food, and local flavor!
Good To Know
Just press play and let our guide Banana Joe walk you through this awesome tour. Tip: on mobile, you can enlarge the tour by clicking the yellow button in the upper right corner.
Curral das Freiras - Nun's Valley
Press Play to meet your guide for the day and discover what today’s epic tour has in store for you — go on, tap it… the adventure starts there!
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Check your Madeira Island Map for the unlock code — or your email — to open the Nun's Valley Tour. Let the adventure begin! 🌄🚗
Only those in the know have the super-secret, ultra-mega-difficult password — the rest will just have to guess… and fail gloriously. 🔒😏
Pirates, Nuns, Vulcanos & Chestnuts
Nun’s Valley is a dramatic volcanic crater turned hidden refuge — once sheltering nuns from pirates. Today, it’s famed for chestnuts, rustic food, and sweeping mountain views that feel worlds away from Funchal.
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Viewpoint of Eira do Serrado
Eira do Serrado is one of Madeira’s most jaw-dropping viewpoints, perched 1096 meters above sea level. From here, you can look straight into the heart of Curral das Freiras (Nun’s Valley), a village tucked deep between towering mountains.
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Eira Do Serrado Hotel
Try the chestnut bread with butter (€3) and pair it with a cherry liqueur — all while enjoying the amazing view from the balcony.
Parking Garage
Parking in Nun’s Valley center can be tricky due to limited space. This car park is the perfect solution — shaded, spacious, and affordable.
Church of Our Lady of Deliverence
At the heart of it all stands the Church of Our Lady of Deliverance (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Livramento)—the only historical monument in this valley village.
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Chestnut Museum
Here, the humble chestnut takes center stage, telling stories of tradition, survival, and tasty recipes that kept generations alive in this hidden valley.
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Hot Maronis Nun's Valley Style
Of course, you need to try chestnuts in their purest form. The best place is the shop right next to the museum.
Toilet brake
Everybody needs a toilet break — luckily, there are public ones very close by.
Sabores do Curral
Forget Disneyland — this is Chestnutland! At Sabores do Curral, soup, beer, clocks and even desserts come with a crunchy chestnut twist.
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Viewpoint Pico dos Barcelos
Soak in the best view of Funchal — no hiking boots required! At Pico dos Barcelos, nature rolls out the red carpet, and Ronaldo’s hometown kicks off the charm.
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Tip Box
If you enjoyed this self-guided tour, a small tip helps us keep these website running smoothly. Thank you! 💛
This self guided drive and walk takes you deep into the history of Nun’s Valley — where nuns once found refuge and chestnuts became the village’s pride. Along the way, you can taste local specialties: chestnut bread with cherry liqueur, roasted marroni with salt “Nun’s Valley style,” and a hearty chestnut soup paired with chestnut beer. 🍞🌰🍺
All these extras are completely optional and instantly available when you show your Madeira Island Pass (digital or printed) at the recommanded stops. The best part? No need to book ahead! Just show up, join in, and enjoy everything at your own pace, all on the same day. 🍌
Facilities
Highlights
The only pass you need in paradise
