Museums in Madeira

Madeira Story Center

Located in the Old Town in Funchal, it is a great way to start you visit and get to know Madeira and its history. The Center exhibits maps, astrolabes and ships that transported early settlers from Portugal to Madeira along with technologies and interactivity. The Museum attracts children as well as adults and offers fantastic voyage through Madeira's history.

• Location: Rua Dom Carlos 27-29, Funchal
• Opening Hours: Open Daily 9.00-18.00
• Shop: 9.00-19.00. Closed on 25 December.
• Telephone: (+351) 291 000 770
• Fax: (+351) 291 000 789
• Email: info@storycentre.com
• Website: www.storycentre.com
• Prices: Adult: €9. Senior Citizens (+65 years old): €8 Child (4-14 years old): €4,5. Children (under 4 years old): free.

Fortaleza de São Tiago & Museum of Contemporary Art

Built in 1614, Fortaleza de São Tiago was attacked by pirates in 16th century. In order to protect it from pirate attacks, the walls of this building was reinforced. Designed by the Portuguese Military Engineer Jeronimo Jorge and occupied by Portuguese military, it is only partially open to public. The building today has been transformed in to a museum of contemporary art.

• Location: Rua do Portao de São Tiago
• Opening Hours: Open Daily 10.00-12.30, 14.00- 17.30. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
• Telephone: (+351) 226 456
• Fax: (+351) 226 906

Museu de Arte Sacra, Funchal

Housed in the old Bishop's palace, Funchal's Sacred Art Museum was built in 1600. The Museum remodeled between 1748- 1757 after the earthquake in 1748 and opened first to public in 1955. The Museum displays a great collection of Portuguese, Madeirense and Flemish art of 15th and 16th centuries including the works of Gerard David, Dieric Bouts and Jan Provost. It is interesting to note that several paintings were donated by wealthy merchants who made a fortune from Madeira's sugar trade.

In addition to remarkable works of art from Bruges and Antwerp, the Museu de Arte Sacra also features religious vestments, silverware, gold and sculptures.

• Location: Rua do Bispo 21
• Opening Hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00-12.30 and 14.20-18.00. Sundays
  10.00-13.00. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
• Telephone: 228 900
• Website: www.museuartesacrafunchal.org
• Email: masf@netmadeira.com

IBTAM Institute for Handicrafts and Embroidery

This institute promotes embroidery, tapestry and handicraft industry in Madeira, which plays an important role in the island's economy.

On the first floor, the collection of 19th and early 20th century embroidered cloths and decorative pieces are exhibited. On the staircase, you will see a magnificent tapestry depicting Madeirense landscape filled with flowers. This tapestry was made in 1958-61 and consists of around 7 millions stitches.

In IBTAM institute, there is a pedagogical center open to public that teaches different types of stitches and methods for those who are interested.

• Location: Rua Visconde de Anadia, 44, Funchal
• Opening Hours: Open Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 12.30, and 14.00 to 17.30. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Telephone:291 223141

Museu 'A Cidade Do Açúcar' (City of Sugar Museum)

This Museum was built around the excavated remains of a house in 1495 for a Flemish merchant: Jeanin Esmerant. This house is significant because, as a guest of Esmerant, Christopher Columbus stayed here twice in this house first in 1480 and then again in 1498.

The Museum displays in a chronological order how sugar influenced the development of the city and brought excessive wealth to Funchal. The Museum also exhibits sugar cones along with other tools of sugar-making process such as scales, weights, etc.

• Location: Praça do Colombo
• Opening Hours: Open Monday to Friday 10.00- 12.30, 14.00-18.00. Closed on Saturdays,Sundays and public holidays.
• Telephone: 236 910
• Admission: Adult 2€, Groups (+10)and Seniors 1€. Free Admission to children and Students.
• Website: www.cm-funchal.pt

Museu Franco (Henrique and Francisco Franco Museum)

Opened to public in 1987 by Camara Municipal do Funchal (Funchal city Hall), as its name recalls, this Museum displays the works of two brothers born on Madeira. Henrique Franco (1883-1961) was a painter and his brother Francisco (1885-1955) was a sculptor. Studied in Paris, these two brothers achieved an international fame. The first part of the Museum exhibits Henrique's works and the second part Francisco's sculptures.

• Location: Rua Joao de Deus 13
• Telephone: 230 633
• Opening Hours:Open Monday to Friday 10.00- 12.30, 14.00-18.00. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Email:museu.franco@cm-funchal.pt

Casa- Museu Frederico de Freitas (Freitas Musuem)

Located in Calcada de Santa Clara, Freitas Museum is an old residence of the collector Dr. Frederico de Freitas, who gave his name to this museum.

The Museum provides a short journey to Madeira's history over 150 years and consists of two parts: The first part displays the history of tiles including examples from Madeira, Persia, North Africa and Spain and the second part of the museum is the house of its founder Dr. Frederico de Freitas. In this part, his collection dating back to 17th century including paintings, tiles, carpets and antique furnishing is exhibited.

• Location: Calçada de Santa Clara 7
• Opening Hours:Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00- 12.30, 14.00-17.30. on Sundays 10.00-12.30 Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
• Telephone: 220 578

Museu de História Natural e Aquário (Municipal Museum)

Situated in the Palace of Sao Pedro, the old residence of Count of Carvalhal, the Municipal Museum consists of two parts: On the ground floor, the Museum has a small aquarium, which is filled with typical fish from Madeira and upstairs is a collection of stuffed bird and animals.

• Rua da Mouraria 31
• Opening Hours: Open Tuesday to Friday 10.00- 18.00. On Saturday, Sunday and public
  holidays open 12.00-18.00. Closed on Mondays, 25 December and 1 January.
• Telephone: 229 761

Adegas de São Francisco (São Francisco Cellars Wine Museum)

This is the best place to taste Maderian wine and learn how it is produced. Housed in a medieval monastery, in a romantic setting, here in this lodge, you can find the oldest wine on the island bottled in 1772s. The visitors can also get the chance to learn how Madeirense unique quality is created.

There are also guided vintage experience tours that are conducted in a room painted by Max Romer in 1922.

• Location: Avenida Aarriaga 28
• Opening Hours: Open Monday to Friday 9.30-18.30 and on Saturdays 10.00-13.00.
  Guided tours: Monday- Friday 10.30, 14.30, 15.30, 16.30. On Saturdays 11.00. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
• Telephone: 740 110
• Website:http://www.symingtonfamilyestates.com/cgibin/webdata_winelodgefront.pl?cgifunction=Search
• Admission Fee: Free Admission

Casa da Luz (Electricity Museum)

Housed in the old Funchal Power Plant, Casa da Luz Museum was opened to public in 1997 in order to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the introduction of electricity to Madeira. It is interesting to know that until 1950, Madeira Island did not have electricity apart from the center of the city.

The Museum displays old machinery, equipment and has an interactive playground.

• Entrance Fee: 2 Euros
• Location: Rua da Casa da Luz, 2.
• Telephone: 291 211480.
• Opening Hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 18.00. Closed Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.
• Website: www.cm-funchal.pt

Vicentes Photography Museum

Situated in the old photographic studio of Vicente Gomes da Silva(1827-1906), the Museum displays the artist's and his family's collection including camera, sceneries, photographic techniques and thousands of negative proofs. A part of the museum is also dedicated to cinema.

• Location: Rua da Carreira, 43, 1.
• Opening Hours: Open Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 17.00. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Telephone:(291) 225050

Mario Barbeito de Vasconcelos Library Museum

This museum demonstrates a collection about Christopher Columbus,including rare books, coins and the history of Madeira.

• Location: Avenida Arriaga, 48
• Opening Hours: Open Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 1.00, 15.00 to 19.00. Saturdays from 9.30 to 13.00. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
• Telephone: 291 233 357

Quinta das Cruzes (the Mansion of the Crosses) Museum

Opened in 1952, the Mansion of the Crosses is considered one if the most well-kept museum. Built for Lomelino family, wealthy merchants from Genova, the house was furnished in the Empire style. The museum displays oriental art, French porcelain, portraits and other impressive decorative art.

• Location:Calçada do Pico 1
• Opening Hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 17.30. Sundays
  from 10.00 to 13.00. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
• Telephone: 291 740670
• Website: http://www.museuquintadascruzes.com/

Universe of Memories Museum

Housed in a 19th century manor house, The Universe of Memories Museum was founded by Joao Carlos Abreu- The Secretary of Tourism. The Museum displays objects from all over the world including books, paintings, ceramics and a collection of carved horses.

• Location:J.C.Abreu, Calcada do Pico,
• Opening Hours:Open Tuesday to Saturday 9.00 to 12.30and 14.00 to 17.30. Sundays from 10.00 to 13.00. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
• Telephone: 291 225122