Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works
Most visitors reach the Nuns Valley and wonder how anyone found it: a village at the bottom of a deep valley that cannot be seen from the sea. The Eira do Serrado viewpoint Madeira visitors stop at looks straight down into it from 1,095 m.
The valley is Curral das Freiras, a parish of about 2,000 people and 25.07 km² in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, 14.7 km from Funchal by road, about 21 minutes. It was named for the Santa Clara nuns who hid there from pirates in 1566. Half a day covers the viewpoint, the village and a plate of something made from chestnuts.
Two tours from Funchal to the Nuns Valley, one on its own and one with Monte.
Most reviewed
With MonteFrom Funchal: Nuns Valley, Monte and Sleigh Ride Tour
The valley with Monte and the toboggan
The viewpoint and the valley
The common mistake is to drive down to the village and skip the viewpoint. The view from above is the reason to come.
Eira do Serrado stands at 1,095 m on the rim of the valley, and from it Curral das Freiras lies far below, in a hollow that looks like a volcanic crater. It is one of the few places on the island hidden from the sea, which is why, in 1566, the Santa Clara nuns took refuge there from pirates.
Look first, then go down. The viewpoint and the village are two stops on the same road; with a car, both fit easily in a morning.
In the village, the church of Nossa Senhora do Livramento dates from the 19th century. Curral das Freiras is the largest parish of Câmara de Lobos.
Curral das Freiras lies at 1,095 metres on the rim of a valley hidden from the sea since the 16th century.Chestnuts and the bus
Visitors often assume the bus stops at the viewpoint. Only some do, and only on request.
Chestnuts are the valley's delicacy, and in early November, around All Saints' Day, Curral das Freiras holds its Festa da Castanha, the chestnut festival.
Bus 181 of Horários do Funchal runs between Funchal and Curral das Freiras about 18 times on working days, 8 on Saturdays and 7 on Sundays and holidays. Only a few of them pass Eira do Serrado: on working days, the 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00 from Funchal, and the 11:15, 13:40, 14:30 and 16:15 back from Lombo Chão. Tell the driver when you board that you want Eira do Serrado. To board there, you must book by phone by midnight the day before, on 291 705 563 or 965 059 005.
The fare is intermunicipal between Funchal and the valley. Visit Madeira has more on the parish, and the guide to Câmara de Lobos covers the rest of the municipality.
The Nuns Valley at a glance
- From Funchal
- 14.7 km, about 21 minutes by road
- Eira do Serrado
- 1,095 m
- Named for
- The Santa Clara nuns, who hid here in 1566
- Bus
- 181; Eira do Serrado on request
- Chestnut festival
- Early November
Common questions
How high is the Eira do Serrado viewpoint?
1,095 m, on the rim of the valley above Curral das Freiras.
Can I take the bus to Eira do Serrado?
Yes, bus 181, but only some trips pass it and only on request: tell the driver when you board, and book by phone by midnight the day before to be picked up there.
Why is it called the Nuns Valley?
The Santa Clara nuns hid there from pirates in 1566; the valley cannot be seen from the sea.
When is the chestnut festival?
In early November, around All Saints' Day.