Funchal Cathedral

Funchal Cathedral is located on the island of Madeira, which is famous for its beautiful architectural monuments and simply beautiful buildings and streets. Among these structures, a special place is occupied by the cathedral, which has become a real "calling card of the island", as well as a place of gathering of numerous tourists. It was founded and consecrated in 1514.

The history of Funchal Cathedral

It has a rich history, firstly, the Funchal Cathedral was the first religious building to appear outside the Portuguese mainland. This is important to consider, since Portugal is a powerful maritime state, whose possessions and lands were spread all over the world. Construction began in the middle of the 15th century, and was completed at the end of 1514. The cathedral underwent many changes, so in early 1509, a bell tower was added to the cathedral, in which weddings were held for a long time. Important religious events took place here over the years, including a festive mass, and Pope John Paul II visited here in early 1992.

Architecture of Funchal Cathedral

The exterior and interior of the cathedral remained the same, despite the fact that the building is more than 500 years old. Work on the construction of the facility began during the reign of King Manel, who commissioned its construction by Gil Eines. The architect began the construction of the Funchal Cathedral in the Gothic style, using stone quarried from the capes of Madeira.

It should be noted that the interior of the Funchal Cathedral is distinguished by magnificent views. The decorations are: the ceiling, which was built of gorgeous cedar wood, paintings by Dutch artists, and tourists like the altar, made of mosaics. There is a silver cross in the hall, which has become a true masterpiece of jewelry by Portuguese craftsmen. There are several ways to get to the cathedral itself – by car or by metro.