Curral das Freiras

Curral das Freiras is a village hidden within a near-circular volcanic caldera in the central highlands of Madeira, accessible through a road tunnel or by a winding mountain road from the surrounding rim. The settlement, whose name translates as 'shelter of the nuns', was a refuge for the convent of Santa Clara during pirate raids in the 16th century. The views from the rim road into the enclosed valley, with the village far below and towering basalt walls on all sides, are among the most dramatic landscapes on the island.