We highly recommend a visit to Funchal’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. Commonly known as the Sé Cathedral, this Gothic and Manueline architectural gem is nestled in the heart of the old town. Once inside the religious building, we were impressed by the beauty of the Mudéjar ceiling and the silver tabernacle. Our attention was caught by the sublime high altar, featuring an imposing altarpiece.
In this article, you’ll find our useful photo tips to help you prepare for your visit and have a great time!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Why visit Funchal’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption?
Is the cathedral worth it? Our opinion:
In our opinion, Nossa-Senhora-da-Assunção Cathedral is well worth a visit. In fact, it features in our article on the best things to do in town! Its traditional two-tone facade, juxtaposing white limestone and brown brick, seduced us with its striking contrast. The building’s architecture harmoniously combines Manueline and Gothic influences. Inside, we were impressed by the richness of the elaborate ceiling, the sumptuous altarpiece and the carved woodwork.
Visit Sé Cathedral and other Funchal landmarks on a guided tuk tuk tour!
Why is Funchal Cathedral famous?
As the main religious building in the Madeira archipelago, the Sé Cathedral is emblematic on several levels: historical, architectural and artistic.. Also known as Nossa-Senhora-da-Assunção Cathedral, it has been a national monument since 1910. It stands majestically in the old town of Funchal.
Our favorite moments
During our visit, we were struck by 3 moments in particular:
- an overview of the cathedral’s richly decorated nave and choir,
- discover the magnificent Mudéjar-style ceiling,
- the unmissable high altar, with its large altarpiece and gilded ornamentation.
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Access: Sé Cathedral, Funchal
Where is the cathedral?
The cathedral dominates Rua do Aljube in Funchal (Madeira).
- Right in the heart of the old town,
- Close to the emblematic Praça do Município(Largo do Colégio),
- Just a few metres from Avenida do Mar.
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How to get there?
To access the religious building, you can choose between 3 options:
- on foot: as you stroll through the old town, you’re bound to come across Rua do Aljube. You won’t want to miss Funchal Cathedral! It stands proudly in the heart of the historic district.
- by public transport: several bus stops are located on Rua 5 de Outubro and Avenida do Mar near the cathedral, including lines 10, 11, 12 and 20. Find out more here.
- by car: take Rua 5 de Outubro, which has several covered parking lots, or Avenida do Mar. A word of advice: don’t try to go any further into the historic district.
Parking
We do not recommend driving in the old town. The streets are narrow and cobbled. Some are even one-way. Choose a parking lot outside the historic center, such as Parking Santa Luzia. It is open from 6am to 10pm on weekdays.
Then simply walk down Rua 5 de Outubro to reach Old Funchal. The cathedral is just a 7-minute walk from this parking lot.
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Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
In Madeira, the locals are very attached to their religion. We encourage you to consult the mass schedules here to avoid disturbing them during church services. We particularly recommend early afternoons, or as soon as the store opens in the morning, as there are fewer visitors. Most tourists are still awake, or still having breakfast.
More generally, we recommend that you visit us outside the summer months (July and August) and school vacations. This way, you can avoid peak periods. Funchal Cathedral is one of the city’s highlights, so it’s a popular tourist attraction.
Length of visit and main difficulties
Allow 10-30 minutes to visit the cathedral.
The church building is accessible to people with reduced mobility. There’s a passage at the main entrance gate that allows you to bypass the steps. Then head to the rear of the cathedral on the tower side, where you’ll discover an entrance that opens directly onto the choir.
Advice on how to visit
There is no set direction. However, we recommend that you first contemplate the cathedral from Avenida Arriaga. You’ll have a bird’s eye view of the building’s facade and tower.
Then cross the threshold into the church and gaze into the nave. Raise your head to discover the sumptuous ceiling, then walk along the 2 sides of the central aisle to get a closer look at the side chapels and their gilded ornaments. Walk up to the high altar, which houses an impressive altarpiece, and to its right is a hidden silver tabernacle.. Lose yourself in contemplating the thousand and one details of this sacred work of art. Before exiting through the back of the cathedral, explore every nook and cranny!
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Visiting with children
Although there is no dedicated tour for children, we invite you to introduce your toddlers to the site. It’s the island’s most emblematic religious building! Give them directions to search rooms throughout the church to entertain them. The touch-screen tablet will enable them to learn more about the history of Funchal Cathedral.
Schedules and rates
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday, 7.15 a.m. to 6.30 p.m,
- Saturdays, 9am to 12pm and 4pm to 7pm,
- Sundays from 7.30am to 12pm and from 4pm to 7pm.
Admission is free.
Guided tours
On the official Sé Cathedral website, you’ll find a page entitled “Guided tour”, which includes a map of the building, downloadable documents, a historical introduction and other information. The page is in Portuguese and available here.
To learn more about Nossa-Senhora-da-Assunção Cathedral in the company of a local guide, opt for a guided tuk tuk tour! It’s a very popular means of transport, as it makes it easier to wander through the narrow, cobbled streets of the historic center. You’ll discover architectural and historical details of Funchal’s emblematic Cathedral, as well as other sites of interest. – See prices, photos and availability.
Catering
In the old town, you’ll find many fine restaurants. Check out our article on the best restaurants in Funchal to discover Madeira’s culinary specialties!
Alternatively, check out our 3 favorites near the cathedral:
- Restaurant Tipografia: offers a varied menu featuring traditional island dishes, including a revisited version ofespada com banana made with Black Saber fillet and banana.
- Restaurant Peixaria no Mercado: featuring fish and seafood dishes from the Mercado dos Lavradores. As a side dish, we were delighted with the braised cabbage with kimchi olive oil!
- Restaurant Santa Maria: we were attracted to this establishment by its original concept. On the menu, we discovered typical Portuguese dishes, as well as a whole range of sushi dishes.
Starting the tour: architecture and historical context
Even before entering the Sé Cathedral, take time to appreciate its exterior architecture from Avenida Arriaga.
The facade of Funchal Cathedral
Standing in front of the religious building, look up to admire its facade divided into 3 sections. On the 2 outer sides, you’ll see large white panels bordered by a series of red stones, which you’ll also find in the center of the storefront. They come from the Cabo Girão region, to the west of Funchal. In front of us stood a remarkable example of Manueline architecture, a style that reached its apogee during the reign of King Manuel I of Portugal.
Now focus on the main entrance, which gives a glimpse of the monument’s interior. Composed of 8 archivolts, this Gothic portal is surmounted by the Portuguese royal coat of arms. We’ve identified another Gothic-style element – have you spotted it? We’re talking about the superb rose window above the door!
The tower that dominates the city
Look to the left for the Sé Cathedral tower. Measuring around 55m in height, its bell tower dominates the town. Divided into 4 floors, it is unfortunately not open to visitors, but features a stone spiral staircase with 160 steps. We moved to the rear of the building to view the tower from a different angle. In low-angle, it looked all the more impressive!
The slender spire at the top of the tower is covered with tiles ordered from Sevilla workshops by King Manuel I in August 1514. The cathedral’s bell tower overlooks all the rooftops of Funchal’s old town. From the perched terrace of theÉglise Saint-Jean-l’Évangéliste, his silhouette was silhouetted against the ocean. A scene that particularly impressed us!
History in brief
Curious visitors will discover the history of the cathedral thanks to the explanatory panels and digital tablet that line the tour route. Thanks to these tools, we learned more about the origins of the religious building.
To briefly summarize the monument’s history, here are a few key dates that seem important to us:
- 1485: King Manuel I of Portugal donates land in the Campo de Duque to build a large church.
- 1493: construction begins under the direction of Master Pêro Anes.
- 1508: the church was blessed by Bishop D. João Lobo, the former parish of Santa Maria do Calhau was dissolved and transferred to the new church, and the village of Funchal became a town.
- 1514: the great church was given the title of cathedral of the new diocese.
- 1517: the cathedral was consecrated by the bishop of Dume.
Within the religious building, we also observed Pope Francis’ skullcap. This small round cap, which covers the top of the head, is a badge of ecclesiastical dignity. Purple is reserved for bishops, red for cardinals and white for the pope.
Continue the tour: inside the religious building
Once you’ve taken a good look at the cathedral from the outside and learned a bit about its history, it’s time to cross the threshold!
The majestic altarpiece
No sooner had we set foot in the church than our eyes were instantly drawn to the sumptuous high altar. Located in the center of the cathedral, the main aisle converges in its direction. To see the 22 gilded sculptures of apostles and prophets decorating the chapel walls, you’ll have to get up close.
Even at a distance from the chapel, you can still admire the large altarpiece with its 12 Flemish-style paintings. These paintings depict the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus, episodes from the life of the Virgin Mary, and Eucharistic scenes. It’s a major piece of the church!
As we closed the distance between us, we also discovered a tabernacle, the image of the cathedral’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Assumption, and the crucified Lord.
The silver tabernacle
To the right of the high altar is a precious silver-encrusted tabernacle donated by King Manuel I.. In the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, our eyes were drawn to the sculptures of the 3 theological virtues: Faith, Charity and Hope. They are carved from the mast of a ship that was wrecked off the coast of Funchal.. We were amazed by the wealth of sacred works!
The Mudéjar ceiling
As you enter the cathedral, you can’t miss the splendid Mudéjar ceiling! This impressive work captivated us with its originality! We’ve never seen a ceiling like this before. It also has great artistic value. Constructed from cedar wood, a tree native to the island, it features geometric shapes, rosettes and gilded, carved ornamentation.
Mudéjar art is the result of the influence of Muslim craftsmen, known as “mudéjars”, on Christian art. It’s a form of hybridization between Islamic and Christian artistic traditions.
End the tour: special features of Funchal Cathedral
Before concluding your visit, we’d like to draw your attention to 3 elements that caught our attention in the cathedral.
Have you noticed the organ that dominates the cathedral? The initiative came from an English doctor living in Madeira. Built in England in 1884, it has undergone several modifications over the years. Installed in the main choir, above the entrance door, it overlooks the church building. We found it relatively small compared to the size of the nave!
As we approached the high altar, we discovered the organ console to its right, hidden in the shelter of a chapel. It groups together all the control accessories and keyboards available to the organist for playing.
During our visit, we even had the chance to hear the sound of the majestic instrument! It resonated in the cathedral, while creating a more solemn atmosphere.
Tombstones
If you pay attention to the paving as you stroll along, you’ll be sure to catch a glimpse of the gravestones that make it up. For the most part, they are the graves of bishops and merchants of the period. This shed light on the church’s rich funerary past. Some inscriptions have unfortunately been erased over time.
Azulejos
Before ending your visit, take time to admire the superb azulejos adorning the walls of the choir exit! This is a set of decorated and usually hand-painted earthenware tiles, typical of Portugal. They are composed of geometric motifs or figurative representations. We tried to interpret the scenes before leaving the building.
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