First of all: a definition and distinction are essential here.
The name "Kings Road" is used for several routes:
First, there is the royal road — also known as the "Emperor’s Way," a hiking trail that circles the island.
Or the "Caminho Real da Encumeada" — also a hiking trail, which takes about 4 hours across a mountain range.
What we mean, however, is a track that can only be driven with an off-road vehicle (yes, really!) and ends roughly to the west at Paúl da Serra.
* "Paúl" refers to a marshy area or swamp.
"Paúl da Serra" therefore roughly means "marshy area on a mountain range."
There really should be NO oncoming traffic — see the pictures below! 😉
Our guide Felipe introduced this track to us as the "Kings Road," so we’ll just stick with that jargon. It may even be that this Kings Road is part of the "Caminho Real da Encumeada" mentioned above — I couldn’t determine that conclusively in my research.
So why does this route have that name?
It’s an old, partly paved royal road that was once one of the region’s main routes.
Back then, landowners rode their horses along this road, while their wives and the nobility (the “kings”) were carried by local men in narrow slings or in litters (palanquins).
We found these images in our first hotel room in Funchal as evidence. The photos clearly show locals — especially the Carapuças, the traditional headgear of Madeira.
... and if a fallen tree actually blocks the narrow roads,
a few volunteers will rush in "immediately"
to clear the obstacle "in no time".
The concept of 'mañana' does not exist in Madeira — quite simply,
because such a stressful timeframe would be out of place here.
Our dear Felipe, of course, helped right away — he always carries a chainsaw in his jeep for situations like this!
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