Located in the parish of Caniço, Madeira, the Matriz Church of Caniço was built in 1783 thanks to Father José Lomelino Barreto, who provided the land for its construction. Check out what to do in Funchal in Things To Do In Funchal Madeira. To learn about Madeira Island, read What To Do In Madeira.
The priest wanted to give the community a church with greater capacity than the old chapels of the Holy Spirit and St. Anthony, which were already in poor condition.
- Coordinates:: 32.651908, -16.840097
The church’s architecture stands out for its transition between Baroque and Rococo styles, with a longitudinal floor plan and a single nave.
The façade is characterized by a gable with a cornice, featuring a stone portal adorned with a large window displaying the royal coat of arms.
Address
R. João Paulo II 12, 9125-035 Caniço
Map
The church interior is captivating with its beautiful golden altars and sacred images.
The paintings by Nicolau Ferreira add a touch of beauty and spirituality.
The temple has the Holy Spirit and Saint Anthony as its divine guardians, making it the only church in Madeira with two patron saints.
However, the most popular celebration is dedicated to Our Lady of Livramento.
When the Portuguese arrived on this land, it was covered in low vegetation, dominated by the carriço plant. The name “Caniço” derives precisely from this plant!
And did you know that the Ribeira do Caniço divided the captaincies of Madeira Island, Funchal, and Machico?
Ponta da Oliveira marked the Funchal captaincy border that culminated in the Ponta do Tristão.
Things to do nearby
Caniço is a parish on the island of Madeira that offers stunning landscapes, blue flag beaches, natural reserves, and water activities.
At Garajau Beach, we dive into a magical world of colours and marine life, where colourful fish are our adventure companions.
The São Salvador Church is an architectural gem in Santa Cruz centre. Dating back to the 16th century, it boasts the Gothic-Manueline style.
The Santa Cruz Madeira Aquapark is an oasis of fun and joy for the whole family, with slides like water roller coasters.
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a religious monument in the centre of Machico, the first city founded in Madeira.
Dating to the 15th century, built by the family of Tristão Vaz Teixeira (one of the discoverers of the archipelago).
The beMachico Beach is a rare gem with golden sand imported from Morocco.
To the northeast, the Ponta de São Lourenço extends along the eastern end of the island of Madeira. Its rock formations and coves intertwine with the beautiful Atlantic.
