Happy birthday for a 500-year-old city

ST HELIER’S twin town Funchal came to life last week as the city celebrated its 500th anniversary.

Funchal’s streets and plazas were transformed into a flurry of parades, bands and street performances.

And eyes were also on the skies, where a parachute jump, planes and sky acrobats soared overhead. The festivities on Thursday evening marked the year Funchal was granted city status in 1508 by King Dom Manuel I of Portugal.

The Funchal 500 Anos started at the beginning of the year and will continue until December, but Thursday was the climax of the celebrations.

The day began with a thanksgiving mass at the city’s cathedral, followed by a parachute jump in which the national, regional and municipal flags were flown.

Parades of classic cars made their way through the plazas and streets of the city while boats and ships paraded along the bay.

A breathtaking firework display brought the celebrations to a close at 11 pm.

• Words: Carly Lockhart • Pictures: Tribuna da Medeira / Rui Silva