Walking through central Funchal today reveals a picture of urban decline that sits uneasily with the image of a well-kept "Pearl of the Atlantic" promoted to tourists. Potholes, makeshift rubbish dumps and vegetation sprouting from the roofs of historic buildings are cited as visible signs of the problem.
An opinion piece published by Funchal Notícias argues that neglect weighs most heavily on residents and traditional shopkeepers, who contend with damaged pavements, decaying facades and water damage. The Palácio Ornelas and buildings on Rua de João Tavira are given as examples.
The author also points to the condition of the Jesuit College on Largo do Colégio, now part of the University of Madeira, which shows damp and lack of maintenance. He argues that public inaction encourages private disinvestment.