The Sacred Art Museum of Funchal is located in the historic Paço Episcopal do Funchal, founded by Dom Luís Figueiredo de Lemos in 1594.
Here, one can find a significant portion of the history of Madeira Island. It is well situated in the city centre, with an entrance to Rua do Bispo.
- Coordinates: 32.649465; -16.908722
To discover the best places to visit in the city, click Madeira Funchal Portugal. For more information about the island, read Things To do in Madeira Portugal.
Sacred Art Location
Address: Rua do Bispo 21, 9000-073 Funchal
It was planned by the royal master builder Jerónimo Jorge. At the time, he was working on the fortifications of Funchal city, specifically São Tiago Fort.
Museum Entrance Price
- Admission to the Sacred Art Museum of Funchal costs three euros per adult.
- For holders of a youth card, it costs 1.5 euros.
The museum opened to the public on June 1st, 1955. We find collections of paintings, sculptures, and goldsmith works from the 15th century. The museum highlights the Flemish painting from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Contacts
Telefone: (+351) 291 228 900
Collection
In the Sacred Art Museum sculpture collection, the Virgin and Child stand out as a remarkable object.
It was offered by Dom Manuel to the Machico church. It is a gilded and polychrome carving of the Flemish school.
On the upper floor, the tour begins with Flemish painting, considered one of the best in Europe.
This invaluable heritage resulted from the sugar produced in Madeira in the 16th century, which motivated intense trade exchange between Madeira and Flanders.
Sugar was expensive in Europe, and part of the wealth was invested in Flemish art, which was among the most important at the time.
Among the oldest paintings is that of Saint George and the Dragon (15th century).
According to legend, the inhabitants of Silene (Libya) provided sacrifices to appease the dragon. The dragon becomes increasingly demanding and begins to demand human sacrifice.
At this tragic moment, Saint George appeared to fight against the dragon and thus save Silene from this terror.
Another interesting painting is “Joachim and Anne Meeting at the Golden Gate“, from the first half of the 15th century, which comes from the Madalena do Mar church.
Some see the characters in this painting as the physical representation of the Saint Catherine Knight Henrique Alemão and the young lady Anes, whom he married when he arrived in Madeira – after the disaster of the Battle of Varna (1444).
According to legend, King Ladislaus III left for the Holy Land after losing to the Ottomans in Varna (Bulgaria) and became a Saint Catherine Knight in the Holy Land.
A passage (1472) in Order of German Knights of Saint Mary of Jerusalem archives states that King Ladislaus resides in the “islands of Portugal.
Things to do near
Only 500 meters towards the old town is the exotic Mercado dos Lavradores (Labor’s Market). It is a great place to buy fresh products.
It is open every day from 9am to 6pm.
Heading south, 200 meters, we have the Cathedral built at the command of Dom Manuel I. Inside, you’ll see a stunning ceiling, one of the best in Portugal.
Towards the east, 500 meters, we discover Blandy’s Wine Lodge and the Madeira wine – a fortified, sweetened wine that pairs well with cheese, nuts, and dried fruits.
Other must-see Museums in Funchal:
CR7 Museum
At the CR7 Museum, we immerse ourselves in the Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro store. It is where all his trophies are located. It is by the sea next to the marina.
MAMMA – Madeira Modern Art Museum
Opened its doors in 2021 in the centre of Estrada Monumental, a famous city hotel area. It has about 300 works, constantly updated.
Quinta das Cruzes Museum
The stunning Quinta das Cruzes Museum is a cultural institution in Funchal. It offers a glimpse of Portuguese and European decorative arts from the 15th century.
Frederico Freitas House Museum
The Frederico de Freitas House Museum, with its striking red colour and imposing proportions, is a prominent presence on the steep Calçada de Santa Clara in Funchal.
It houses a significant collection of Portuguese art from the 15th to 19th centuries, a valuable collection of furniture, ceramics, and crystal.
The house was built in the 17th century by the wealthy Portuguese merchant Frederico de Freitas. A beautiful example of Madeiran architecture.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm.
