On the second day of his visit to the Madeira Autonomous Region, the President of the Republic took part in the Commemorative Ceremony of the 500 Years of the City of Funchal, held in the Council Hall of the capital of Madeira.

During the ceremony, President Aníbal Cavaco Silva received the Gold Medal of the city, and addressed a speech allusive to the celebration and to his visit.

Prior to this the President of the Republic had been welcomed in “Praça do Município” (Council Square) with military honours, greeted by the City Councillors and unveiled a plaque allusive to the celebration of the five centuries of Funchal.

When the ceremony ended, a national issue of stamps commemorating the event was launched, after which the Mayor of Funchal and his wife hosted a luncheon in the honour of the President of the Republic and Mrs. Cavaco Silva, which was held in the Fort of São Tiago.

Read here the speech addressed by the President of the Republic