Câmara Municipal (City Hall), Funchal

Francisco Antonio Camara Leme built his home, the Carvalhal Esmeraldo Palace, in the city of Funchal in 1758. It was designed by Raul Lino and Carlos Ramos. The style can be described as Baroque Rococo. Construction materials were mainly masonry, stone, wood, cast iron and tiles. The building was acquired by the city of Funchal in 1883.

The first Funchal town hall was built in 1486 on the Duque Square (Largo do Duque) near Funchal Cathedral. The town council moved several times after that, finally settling in Largo da Se in 1802. Still not happy, the council discovered the Palacio Esmeraldo Palace on the Ferreiros Street (Rua dos Ferreiros) bordering the Municipal Square.

The City Hall has an impressive main entrance doorway carved in grey stone. The reception area on the first floor (second floor USA) has eleven windows with balconies. Security gratings dating from the 17th century shield windows on the ground floor.

From the entrance an extravagant staircase reaches into the inner courtyard. Here, one encounters the sculpture of Leda and the Swan. The legend is that Zeus, disguised as a swan, had an affaire with his lady love, Ms Leda. All this because Zeus was afraid of Hera, his wife. It's an old story.