A treasure in the Atlantic: Europe, heritage, art and beauty.

The Museum of Sacred Art of Funchal houses since 1955 a patrimonial set comprised by collections of paintings, sculptures, goldsmithery, textiles and liturgical vestments, witnessing five centuries of Madeiras Island History.

Of special note among the collections of the Museum are the Flemish paintings of the 15th and 16th centuries that were sent to Madeira during the so-called golden era of sugar production. The Flemish panels are notable not only for their high quality, but also for their large sizes, which are not common in the other museums of Europe that keep Flemish painting collections. Also worthy of special mention are the collection of Flemish sculptures, coming mainly from Malines and Antwerp; the collection of Portuguese painting and sculpture from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries and the goldsmithery section which includes a processional cross offered to the Funchal Cathedral by King D. Manuel I.