Eira do Serrado Hotel

The Curral das Freiras is one of Madeira’s most iconic locations – and there’s no hotel closer than the Eira do Serrado Hotel & Spa.

More commonly known in English as the Nun’s Valley, the Curral das Freiras famously provided safe refuge to the nuns of the Convent of Santa Clara – fleeing Funchal when French pirates attacked in the mid-16^th century. The village itself is amazingly remote – bounded on all sides by some of the island’s highest mountain peaks: Pico de Cedro (1759m) to the east, Pico da Ginda (1316m) in the north and Pico do Serradinho in the west (1436m).

The Eira do Serrado Hotel sits on the summit of Pico do Serrado, towering over the village on its southern side. It’s one of the island’s most famous, most photographed views – it’s also the view from the each of the hotel’s twenty-six spacious balcony rooms, from the heated swimming pool, the fitness room and the restaurant terrace.

The hotel’s location makes it ideal for exploring the islands high central mountains: a new road has recently been completed, taking you from Serrado to Madeira’s second highest peak Pico Arieiro, opening up exciting new possibilities for hiking in the area.