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Remarkable gardens, deep blue sea and picturesque landscapes are some of the things that greet you as you enter the city. Surrounded by huge mountains on one side and clear waters on the other, Funchal is truly blessed by nature. Music is an inseparable part of cultural heritage of Portugal, which is amply reflected in the music festivals held in the city.

Jazz originated sometime in the 20th century in Southern United States and slowly became extremely popular in the world. Today, several countries hold Jazz festivals in different cities to promote this unique music genre. Going along with this tradition, the very first jazz festival in Funchal was held in the year 2000 and since then has become one of the most anticipated events on the island.

Held at Santa Catarina Park the festival is organized by Funchal Municipal Council, where jazz fans can look forward to 3 days of musical extravaganza. The park was developed over a period of 20 years from 1946 to 1966, and then taken over by the Municipality of Funchal. With amazing collection of both native and exquisite plants, the park is a great place to relax and stroll about. The breathtaking view of the city along with the lush green grounds provides the perfect backdrop for the jazz festival.

In the first year itself the festival showcased some extremely famous jazz artists of the world including Eliane Elias, Nicholas Payton, Dianne Reeves, Ivan Lins, McCoy Tyner and several others. Being held in Funchal, the festival also looked to promote artists from Portugal including Marino Freitas, Maria Viana, and Paula Oliveira. Along with encouraging this musical form, the festival has also largely contributed towards Funchal becoming a popular tourist destination. The organizers of the event strive to encourage the younger lot into taking up jazz and hold several programs such as workshops, classes and other similar activities.

Every year the Funchal Jazz festival attracts both artists and fans from all over the world. Soulful renditions by leading jazz artists are truly something to look forward to on your trip to Funchal. The city is well connected with every part of the world, with almost all major airports having direct flights to Funchal,Portugal .