The largest city and capital of the Madeira Islands, Funchal was named after “funcho” [fennel], as the aromatic plant grows abundantly in the archipelago. Founded in the 14th Century, the town flourished as a stopping place for ships heading to the Indies and as a port of export of Madeiran sugar and wine. Many stately building from that prosperous period can still be seen in the town’s historical centre, particularly in the Sao Pedro area. The town’s architectural landmark is the Se Cathedral, built in the late 15th-early 16th Century, an interesting mixture of Gothic and Moorish styles with local influences. Funchal was fortified in the 17th Century to resist pirate attacks. Today, the fortress contains a Museum of Contemporary Art and a restaurant. The 18th-Century Town Hall is remarkable for its carved grey stone doorway and for its beautiful courtyard containing a sculpture called “Leda and the Swan”. The Sacred Art Museum houses a rich collection of Flemish paintings and a valuable processional cross.