Madeira & Azores Tourism Guide - Funchal Centre

Funchal Madeira Centre Convento de Santa Clara & Christopher Columbus Statue

A large number of Funchal's historic sights are situated around the cathedral and up the hill around Convento de Santa Clara (great views up here too, so well worth the climb). On the way upto Convento de Santa Clara you'll pass two museums, Museu Municipal with all things natural history, and Casa Museu Frederico de Freitas. Freitas was a native lawyer and lived in this mansion, now museum, in the 18th century. He was an obsessive collector of art and artifacts. Note the superb collection of azulejos tiles here!

The Convent of St Clare dates back to 1496. Today the sisters here are all volunteers and it's a friendly, open and attractive scene (in the past it was enclosed order for life!). The azulejo tiles and stunning gardens are particular features here.

Starting from the western tip of Funchal centre next to Santa Catarina Park, the statue of Christopher Columbus pulls in the crowds. Really though his place on Madeira sits within a selection of other merchants looking to make a profit out of Madeira via trade. Oh, and he married the daugher of Bartolomeu Perestrelo who was one of the founders of Madeira. As statues of Christopher Columbus go, this one's particularly ugly and well worth a look for that!

Pushing along the Funchal seafront you'll spot the Palacio da Sao Lourenco and the Old Customs House which now serves as Madeira's regional parliament building. Head inland at the Old Customs House, and find the Cathedral and Nucleo Museologico A Cidade do Acucar. Funchal's old Se/cathedral was built around the same time as the Customs House and completed in 1514. It's a fine example of Manueline architecture, and mixes both Gothic and Renaissance styles.

Nucleo Museologico A Cidade do Acucar Funchal Museum of Sugar

Housed in what was originally the 15th century house of a rich sugar merchant (Joao Esmeraldo, friend to Christopher Columbus) on Madeira, the Sugar Museum is essential viewing exploring the history of sugar plantations and the sugar trade on Madeira. Recent excavations here turned up an old cistern and remains of food, coins, buttons and weights. The museum offers a fascinating insight into the sugar trade here with maps, charts and artifacts related to the Sugar Trade all on display.

Sugar Museum Funchal, Praca Colombo, 5, Funchal. Tel. 291 236910. Open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Madeira Wine Museum, Praca do Municipio & Museu de Arte Sacra, Funchal

Pushing up further inland along Rua dos Ferreiros you come to the bustling Praca do Municipio. Here you ll find the Muse de Arte Sacra and the Igreja do Colegio founded by the Jesuits. The Arte Sacra contains an important collection of Flemish paintings dating from the 16th to 18th century. Museu de Arte Sacra, Rua do Bispo, 21, Funchal. Tel 291 228900. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Sunday from 10 a.mto 13:00 p.m.

Not far away on Rua 5 de Outubro look for the watchtower building this is the Madeira Wine headquarters. Madeira's wine is of course world famous. Head for the small Madeira wine museum here to find out about the history of Madeira wine. Barrels, photography, prints and engravings are all on display.

Madeira Wine Museum, Rua 5 de Outubro, 78, Funchal, Madeira. Tel. 291 204600. Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Free admission.

Funchal Museum Listings

Vicentes Photography Museum, Rua da Carreira, 43, 1, Funchal, Madeira. Tel. 291 225050. Open Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 5pm. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Mario Barbeito de Vasconcelos Library Museum, Avenida Arriaga, 48, Funchal Madeira, Tel. 291 233 357. Open Mon-Fri, 10am to 1pm, 3pm to 7pm. Saturdays from 9.30am to 1pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays. Of interest particularly for its collection of maps, prints and rare books, plus coins and articles - some of which relate to Christopher Columbus.

Henrique e Francisco Franco Museum, Rua Joao de Deus, Funchal Madeira. Tel: 291 230 633. Open Mon to Fri 10am to 12.30pm, 2pm to 6pm. Closed Saturdays, Sun & Public HOlidays. Prints, Drawings and sculptures are on display here dating from the 19th and early 20th century.

Funchal Municipal Museum, Rua da Mouraria 31, Funchal Madeira. Tel: 291 229761, open Tues-Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat, Sun & Public holidays from 12 noon to 6pm. Closed Mondays.

More Funchal Museum Listings

IBTAM Museum of Embroidery, Rua Visconde de Anadia, 44, Funchal Madeira. Tel. 291 223141. Open Mon to Fri from 10am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 5.30pm. Closed to Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Casa da Luz Museum, Rua da Casa da Luz, 2, Funchal, Madeira. Tel. 291 211480. Open Tues to Sat 10am to 12.30pm & 2pm to 6pm. Closed Sun, Mon & public holidays. This museum sits on the site of the old Funchal Power Plant which closed in 1989. There's some old machinery and equipment on display here.

Quinta das Cruzes Museum, Calcada do Pico, Funchal. Tel. 291 740670. Open Tues-Sat 10am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 5.30pm. Sundays from 10am to 1pm. Closed Mondays and public holidays.

Universe of Memories - J.C.Abreu, Calcada do Pico, Funchal. Tel. 291 225122. Open Tues to Sat 9am to 12.30pm, 2pm to 5.30pm, Sun 10am to noon. Closed Mon & public holidays. Centres of the travels and life of J.C.Abreu - a curio indeed, take a look. For more information on all these museums, checkout the Madeira Tourism guide weblink right for details.