Madeira Military Museum

Museum in Funchal (Madeira)

1024px Palacio De San Lorenzo Museo Militar

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Alberto-g-rovi

Built at the beginning of the 16th century by order of King Dom Manuel I, São Lourenço Palace initially served as a fortress to defend the population of Funchal. Currently designated as a National Monument since 1943, the palace now hosts the Madeira Military Museum. Renovation efforts in 1991 transformed unoccupied spaces, such as the old Guard House, into a museum dedicated to military and artistic objects.

Established in 1993, the Madeira Military Museum occupies three rooms of the historic fortress. The exhibition features diverse collections, including weaponry from the 18th century to the present, bronze artillery pieces, and light weapons. Utilizing innovative technology, the museum dynamically illustrates 600 years of the Portuguese Army’s history in Madeira. Since 2010, the configuration of the museum is organized around themes such as ‘Madeira in the context of Portuguese expansion,’ ‘Military History of Madeira,’ and ‘Military Fortifications and Infrastructures of the Region.’

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

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