Top 10 Madeira (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

Madeira’s Top 10
14
Museu da Quinta das Cruzes, Funchal
Madeira’s early settlers built their homes on the heights above the harbour so
that they could see pirate ships approaching. The Quinta das Cruzes is just such
a mansion. Originally built by Captain Zarco (see p36), it was rebuilt in the 19th
century as the elegant home of the Lomelino family, and is now a museum
full of antiques and fine art. An excursion to the Quinta can be combined with
a visit to the Convento de Santa Clara (see pp16–17), a short walk away.
Museu da Quinta das
Cruzes
There’s a delightful
teahouse in the
courtyard of the
Universo de
Memórias (itself
worth a visit),
opposite the
entrance to the
Quinta. Sip tea by a
fountain, on a terrace
ringed by flowers
and climbing plants.
Concerts are often
held in the Museu da
Quinta das Cruzes;
look out for posters
in the ticket office.
It’s a steep climb to
the museum, and
there’s no bus – so
you might want to
take a taxi.
• Calçada do Pico 1
• Map N2
• 291 740 670
• 10am–12:30pm,
2–5:30pm Tue–Sat,
10am–1pm Sun
• Admission €2
Top 10 Features
1 Archaeological Park
2 Manueline Windows
3 Orchid Garden
4 Chapel
5 Trade Goods
6 Drawing Rooms
7 Picnic by Tomás da
Anunciação
8 Palanquin
9 Sugar Box Furniture
0 Silver Collection
! Archaeological
Park
The gardens to the south
of the Quinta (above) serve
as an outdoor museum of
ancient masonry. One
prominent relic is the base
of Funchal’s pillory, erected
in 1486. Until 1835,
criminals were chained to
the pillory and whipped.
@ Manueline
Windows
The stone window frames
set up in the garden (right)
are fine examples of a style
inspired by the voyages of
discovery made during the
reign of King Manuel I of
Portugal (1495–1521). They
are carved with knotted
ships’ ropes, lions and a
porter carrying a goatskin
full of wine on his head.
£ Orchid Garden
A stately old dragon
tree (see p21) thrusts its
fleshy limbs through the
roof of the shade house at
the rear of the Quinta garden,
where tier upon tier of
tropical orchids are grown
for use as cut flowers.