| Wine, Embroidery and Handcraft Institute - IVBAM |
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'Madeira' is a sweet and fortified wine, which divides into: dry, half dry, sweet and half sweet. It is the Institute of Madeira Wine that ensures the quality and genuineness of the wines, which are known all over the world.
Madeira Wine
In Madeira the vines are planted in small plots or terraces called "poios", which can be found along the slopes all the way down to the seaside, mainly in the south part of the island. The most favourable regions for the plantations are: Campanário, Ponta do Sol, Câmara de Lobos and Estreito de Câmara de Lobos. The fame of Madeira Wine spread all over the world. This wine was particularly appreciated in the most refined European courts. One of the Shakespearean characters in "Henry the Eight"-Falstaff, was accused of changing his soul for a chicken leg and a glass of 'Madeira'.
The wine was transported by boat from Madeira towards the East, when it was not all sold; it came back to Funchal to be returned. At the time, it was discovered that the returned wine had a much higher quality to the wine that remained in the island. This wine started to be sold at "Gold Price". It was called the "returned wine or the wine of the round voyage from India".
This discovery had a great influence in the production process of Madeira wine. 'Madeira' is a sweet and fortified wine containing 18-20% alcohol and it divides in different types: dry, half dry, sweet and half sweet.
Some wine names are related to the vine species. Sercial is dry, delicate and light in colour with a soft scent.
Malvasia is very sweet, incorporated, light in colour and with a strong scent.
Verdelho and Boal are in between the above; Verdelho is similar to Sercial and Boal to Malvasia.
Madeira wine is subject to rigorous quality control. The responsible entity to certify the wine is the Wine Institute of Madeira.
The wine is exported and sold in the Island and it carries an appropriate certificate issued by the Wine Institute of Madeira. It is compulsory to affix a stamp in all the bottles.
The Wine Institute of Madeira has a lab and the Câmara de provadores (Tasters Council) with the objective to ensure the quality and authenticity of the wines.
Museum of Madeira Wine
In this museum, visitors find a vast collection of tools used in wine production and its trade process. The museum offers to its visitors the possibility to taste the different kinds of Madeira Wine.
You can visit the Museum at the following times:
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00
Free entry
Location: Rua 5 de Outubro no.78 9000-079 Funchal
Telephone: 291204600
Fax: 291228685
e-mail:
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| Jesuit College |
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The School of São João Evangelista was one of the most impressive buildings in the centre of Funchal. After the extinction of the Society of Jesus, this building became a public property. Several public institutions related to Schooling, Education and the Armed Forces moved to this site.
The School of São João Evangelista was one of the main buildings in the centre of Funchal until the 19th century.
After the extinction of the Society of Jesus, this building became a public property. Several public institutions related to Schooling, Education and the Armed Forces moved to this site.
The Autonomous Region of Madeira acquired it and later it was given to the University of Madeira for its Administration and services.
This building presents a rectangular plan, with two and three articulated floors and five corridors on the inside. It also has two courtyards: one for the priests, which belongs to the Borough of Funchal and the other for the students with entry on Ferreiros street.
The old fence of the school, on the north side, is used today as a parking lot for some of the services operating there.
The corridors, offices and University rooms have some furniture brought from the old Manor Estate Quinta do Monte, built in 1802. Here the last Emperor of Austria, Charles of Habsburg passed away.
The Old School of the Jesuits of Funchal was classified as estate patrimony of Regional Value.
Location: Rua dos Ferreiros 9000-081 Funchal
Telephone: 291209400
Opening Hours: 09:00 to 18:00 |
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| São Pedro Palace |
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The Palace of São Pedro is one of the most beautiful buildings from the 18 th century.
Nowadays, accommodates the Natural History Museum and the Aquarium of Funchal.
Regional Archive of Madeira
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30
Closed: Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays
Library
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 19:00
Closed: Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays
Location: Rua da Mouraria no.31
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| Santa Clara Convent |
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The convent was built on orders of the second hereditary fief of Madeira, João Gonçalves da Câmara at the end of the 16th century, near his father's residence in order to accommodate the daughters of the local nobility.
It was built on orders of the second hereditary fief of Madeira, João Gonçalves da Câmara at the end of the 16th century, near his father's residence in order to accommodate the daughters of the local nobility.
The building works were concluded in 1497, when the first nuns of the Clarissas Order arrived.
Until the middle of the 18th century, the convent welcomed a large number of nuns, but when the Religious Orders were extinct, no new women were accepted.
After the death of the last nun, the building and the proprieties belonging to this convent were repossessed by the State. In 1896 part of the installations were given to the congregation of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, who stayed there until the implementation of the Republic.
Years later the Government of the Republic gave the Borough of Funchal the responsibility to guard and preserve the Church of Santa Clara and some land annexed to the convent in order to enlarge the streets. Several parts of the convent were given to the Associação de Beneficência (Benefits Association), as well as some land to build its facilities.
Nowadays the Franciscan Nuns occupy several installations. They have received permanent residence permission, as well as permission to establish a school and a kindergarten for children of disadvantaged families.
The entrance to the convent is located by the churchyard through a door in grey stone ornamented with the ensign of the Saint Franciscan Order dated from the 17th century.
The set of buildings of the Convent of Santa Clara constitutes a valuable heritage due to their contents and mainly because it survived and today still maintains the same mission that it was built for Convent for Fransciscan Nuns.
In the Convent, visitors can see: the Courtyard, Church of São Gonçalo de Amarante, possibly built in the 16th century, Penthouse, which gives access to the Choirs and Cloister, Lower Choir and Upper Choir with a beautiful view over the interior of the Church of Santa Clara.
Location: Calçada de Santa Clara no.15 9000-036 Funchal
Telephone: 291 742602
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00
Entrance Fee: 2 € Groups: 1,5 € |
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| João Carlos Abreu Memories |
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Here we can see a vast number of pieces acquired throughout many trips of João Carlos Abreu, which represent his "modus vivendi".
Francisco Simão, the bastard son of Countess da Calçada, built this estate in the last quarter of the 19th century. When he realised his situation, he emigrated to the British Guiana determined to earn money and build a grandiose house next to his family residence as a way to revenge for being abandoned.
The Regional Government acquired this beautiful and well preserved estate in 2001 in order to accommodate the collection of João Carlos Abreu, which he had donated to the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
The João Carlos Abreu Memories includs: a Library, Reception, a Tea House, a Shop and an Auditorium, as well as the Red Room, the Purple room, a Dinning Room, a Travel Room, a Kitchen, the Horse Room, an Oratorio, a Bathroom, the Jewellery Room, the Green Bedroom, the Beige Bedroom, the Tie Room and a Small Hall.
Location: Calçada do Pico No.2 9000 - 026 Funchal
Telephone / Fax: 291225122
Guided Tours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00
Closed: Mondays and Bank Holidays
Entrance Fee:
Adult – 3€
Youth (14 to 18 years old) – 1,5€
Children (until 14 years old) – Free Entry
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| São João Batista Fortress |
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Located at 111,5 meters above sea level, this fortress, completed on the second half of the 17th century, was used, at the time, as the city warehouse to store gunpowder (this gunpowder was meant for all the forts and towers of the Island). During the 17th century, some apprenticeship workshops were established in this fortress and they lasted until the 19th century.
Initially it was designated by Fortress of São João, afterwards it was renamed as São Filipe and São Miguel and later it recovered its original name.
In the middle of the 20th century, it was given to the Navy to accommodate its Communication Centre. Due to the great number of antennas on the fortress, the population began to call it "Pico Rádio".
It offers a panoramic view over the city of Funchal.
Location: Rua do Castelo (transversal to Calçada do Pico)
Opening Hours: Opening Hours every day from 9:00 to 18:00
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| Rua da Carreira (Carreira Street) / Júlio Dinis Statue |
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The Carreira Street is one of the most interesting arteries of the City of Funchal. Júlio Dinis, a doctor and a sculptor, lived in an estate located in Carreira Street. The site is marked with his Statue in bronze. The Carreira Street is one of the most interesting arteries of the City of Funchal. This street gathers a considerable amount of interesting architectural buildings.
Its name "Rua da Carreira dos Cavalos" (Horse Path Street) originated from the horse races that took place there in the olden days.
Sculpture of Júlio Dinis - 1939-1871
A doctor and a sculpture, Júlio Dinis came to Madeira three times in search of cures for his fragile health.
He lived temporarily in an estate in Carreira Street. The site is marked with his Statue in bronze, created by the Madeiran sculptor Ricardo Veloza.
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| “Porta 33” Gallery - Quebra Costas Association |
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The dynamic Art Gallery inaugurated in 1990 has displayed several exhibitions from national and international artists.
In this building the poet Herberto Helder lived for several years during his childhood.
Location: Rua do Quebra Costa No.33 9000-034 Funchal
Telephone: 291743038
Fax: 291744048
Site: www.porta33.com
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 16:00 to 20:00
Closed: Monday
Free entry
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| Burial Ground |
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The building of the cemetery for foreigners dates from 1771. Its area was expanded in 1852, due to the increase of British citizens in the Island; this is also the reason why it is called "Cemetery for the English".
In the Old Burial Ground are buried some remarkable personalities, such as Richard Tomas Lowe and Paul Langenhans (a doctor and researcher who discovered the "Langenhans cells").
Location: Rua da Carreira No. 235
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays
Note: The main gate of the cemetery is always closed. Entrance is free of charge
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