Funchal Sacred Art Museum

Museum in Funchal (Madeira)

Sacred Art Museum Of Funchal
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Holger Uwe Schmitt

The Funchal Sacred Art Museum is housed in a 16th-century palace, the former Paço Episcopal, established in 1594 by D. Luís Figueiredo de Lemos. It stands as one of the oldest museum spaces in the capital of Madeira, Funchal.

Originally serving as the residence of the bishops of Funchal, the museum now hosts an eclectic art collection featuring works spanning the 15th to the 19th centuries. The collection encompasses a diverse range of art forms, including paintings, sculptures, goldsmithing, and embroidered vestments, reflecting both diversity and historical significance.

Two primary groups of art emerge from this collection: Portuguese Art and Flemish Art. Notably, the Flemish Art section features paintings with unusually large dimensions, a distinctive characteristic not commonly found in European museums.

Among the remarkable goldsmithing pieces at the Funchal Sacred Art Museum are the 15th-century processional cross of Água de Pena, a tray and chalice with an Antwerp hallmark from the 16th century, and the processional cross offered by D. Manuel I to the Cathedral of Funchal. The museum also houses an 18th-century tile panel on the balcony, allegorically representing the trilogy of “Faith, Hope, and Charity,” adding further depth to the museum’s rich and varied collection.

The Funchal Sacred Art Museum appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Funchal (Madeira)!

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Visiting Funchal Sacred Art Museum

Hours:

Monday to Friday: 10:00-17:30 | Saturday: 10.00-13.30 | Closed: Sunday and Public Holidays | Guided tours available


Price:

Adult: €8

Address: Sacred Art Museum of Funchal, Rua do Bispo, Funchal, Portugal
Duration: 20 minutes

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