About: Set amid 6 hectares of botanical gardens in Funchal, Madeira, Quinta da Casa Branca is a 19th-century vineyard estate reborn as a serene boutique hotel where heritage meets sustainability. The property’s British founders (the Leacock family of Madeira wine fame) planted these grounds with vines and banana trees generations ago, and today guests wander pathways lined with camphor trees, palms, Norfolk pines, and flowering subtropicals – an “album of species” lovingly preserved on-site. Rather than demolish the past, the owners integrated it: in 1998 an award-winning modern wing was added, its sleek glass-and-slate architecture tucked low among the greenery to honor the existing landscape and views. The result is a Small Luxury Hotels-member hideaway that feels both contemporary and organic, with floor-to-ceiling windows in every room offering vistas of exotic gardens and an old manor house on the hill. Sustainability here flows naturally. The gardens are maintained without chemical pesticides – instead, natural compost and careful tending keep the soil healthy (the hotel even labels many plants for curious visitors). Solar panels discreetly provide hot water for rooms and the swimming pool, while an irrigation system feeds on rainwater collected from the estate. The hotel’s two restaurants champion local and organic ingredients – from Madeira’s famous tropical fruits to herbs and vegetables grown on-site – crafting fresh island-to-table cuisine. Guests can enjoy breakfast on a terrace amid blooming bougainvillea and end the day with estate-grown Madeira wine in the dining room of the restored manor (a nod to the Quinta’s winemaking past). Well-being is central: there’s a boutique spa and a modern fitness room tucked among the trees, plus two heated pools (one outdoor by fragrant gardens, one in a sleek pavilion) inviting relaxation year-round. The hotel also encourages guests to explore Madeira’s natural wonders – staff can organize levada trail hikes and Jeep tours into the lush interior. Impact: Quinta da Casa Branca has become a model of responsible luxury: by restoring historic buildings, supporting local producers, and protecting its botanical heritage, it sustains Madeira’s culture and environment. Guests consistently praise the genuine hospitality and “exceptional gardens” that make it feel “more like staying in a park than a hotel”. In essence, this Quinta invites you to slow down, breathe in the perfume of anthuriums and wild bananas, and experience Madeira’s legacy of nature and gentility – all with a light footprint.