The city of Funchal in Madeira is dotted with numerous churches and chapels, each with its own style and specificity. The Sé Cathedral, built at the request of the King of Portugal, D. Manuel I, in the late 15th century, is a listed National Monument. Its grandiose 16th-century altarpiece is an important work of religious art. The paintings, the azulejos, the pulpit, the stall seats and the Mudéjar-style ceiling, made of cedar wood and inlaid with ivory, are remarkable features not to be missed. If you take the cable car, you can visit the Monte church, surrounded by gardens and sloping lanes offering spectacular views over Funchal. On the altar is the lovely image of Our Lady of Monte. On the ceiling, in the center, you can see an illustration of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary. A side chapel also houses the sarcophagus of Austro-Hungarian Emperor Charles I, who lived in exile in Madeira.
The São João Evangelista (St. John the Evangelist) church is located in the town hall square. Dating from the 17th century, it features an altar with 11,000 virgins, alluding to the martyrdom of Saint Ursula and her companions. Its high altar is impressively beautiful, with inset marble steps and images of 4 saints of the Society of Jesus. The Santa Maria Maior church, on Via Santa Maria, is easily identifiable by its main façade, which features a white marble sculpture of Our Lady. The church and convent of Santa Clara are worth a visit not only for their beauty, but also for their history. The convent was built in the late 16th century and is now occupied by the Franciscan Sisters.
Funchal’s churches were visited in August 2018.
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