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An 18th century manor house formerly the residence of the commander of British forces during the Napoleonic wars, Estalagem Jardins Do Lago is a hotel steeped in history. Located on a hilltop overlooking the sea, the hotel is 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Funchal. The 40 air- conditioned guestrooms all extend to furnished balconies with garden views, and have a classic decor in soft colours with antique style wood furniture. All have marble bathrooms and include cable television with Internet access, minibars, and hair dryers.
The main restaurant serves Madeiran specialities and international dishes in a formal dining room setting, while the Colombo bistro is located by the pool and serves drinks, snacks and light meals. The breakfast room is decorated in pink with 16th century Flemish paintings and leads out to a veranda with garden seating. The hotel is set within 2.5 hectares of botanical gardens filled with rare plants, mature trees and colourful and delicate exotic flowers from as far afield as Australia, China, Argentina and Africa. The gardens are also home to Colombo, a giant tortoise from the Galapagos Islands who has lived at the hotel for almost half a century. Guests can make use of the tennis court, enjoy a game of billiards or pool in the games room or relax with a book from the library. After a workout in the gym, the health- conscious can head to the Turkish bath and sauna, or guests can simply relax and swim in the large, heated, freshwater outdoor pool. There are sun terraces with sun beds and umbrellas, and towels are provided by the hotel. A supermarket, conference centre and the convent of Santa Clara can all be found within 500 metres of the hotel. Madeira International Airport is located 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) away, a drive of approximately 15 minutes.
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