Funchal city is the capital and owes its name to the plant called "funcho". This plant existed in abundance in this area. Sweets are still made from this plant today. The category of city was granted by King Manuel I, on 21 August, 1508. It's a city of white rows of houses that climb up the hills, like an amphitheatre around a beautiful bay of blue sea. This architectonic distribution, due to the region's rugged and high terrain, covers itself with special beauty to bring in the New Year, since it makes it possible to put on a fireworks display of rare beauty and present a unique festive illumination for the season. Funchal's port is the entry door for many cruise ships as well as for the loading and unloading of goods shipped by sea. The city is divided into three principal areas: on the west side, we have the tourist area where we find most of the hotels; on the east side, the so-called "Zona Velha" or "Cidade Velha" (Old Zone or Old Town), where old constructions predominate, some of them having been transformed into typical restaurants; and the central part, where a great part of the commerce and characteristic monuments are found.