Top 10 Madeira (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

Capela dos Milagres, & Machico
The Chapel of the Miracles takes
its name from the 15th-century
Flemish crucifix on the high altar.
It was miraculously found floating
at sea, years after the old
chapel was washed away by a
flood in 1803. The original chapel
is said to have been built over
the grave of Anne of Hertford
and Robert Machin, legendary
lovers shipwrecked here in the
14th century. d Map K4
* São Bento, Ribeira Brava
A lion and a basilisk (whose
stare was said to turn humans to
stone) are among the carvings
on the capitals, font and pulpit of
this Gothic parish church. Don’t
miss the magnificent 16th-century
Flemish Nativity and statue of
the Virgin. d Map D5
( Senhora da Luz, Ponta
do Sol
Founded in 1486 by Rodrigo
Anes, one of the first men granted
land on Madeira by the Portuguese
king, this lovely church
has an original knotwork ceiling,
a 16th-century Flemish altarpiece,
and a unique ceramic font,
glazed with green copper oxide
to resemble bronze. d Map D5
) Capela do Loreto, Loreto
Senhora da Luz, Ponta do Sol
Another unspoiled, historic
early church, boasting a knotwork
ceiling and Gothic doorways of
imported white marble. d Map C4
Top 10 Religious
Figures
! St Laurence
São Lourenço was the
name of the ship in which
Captain Zarco (see p36) set
sail for Madeira in 1420.
St Vincent @ The patron saint of Portugal
and of wine makers is depicted
on the ceiling of the church in
São Vicente (see p81).
# Our Lady of Monte
According to local legend,
the Virgin gave this statue to a
shepherdess (see p26).
$ Our Lady of Terreiro
da Luta
This huge statue (see p78)
was built in thanks for protection
during World War I.
% St Anthony of Padua
The Lisbon-born saint
preaches to fish in the Sacred
Art Museum (see p10) and the
Fishermen’s Chapel (see p42).
St Ignatius Loyola
^ The founder of the Jesuit
order graces the façade of the
Colégio (see p40).
Christ the Redeemer
& Erected in 1927, this clifftop
statue (see p87) resembles
the famous landmark in
Brazil’s capital, Rio de Janeiro.
* St Francis and
St Clare
Patron saints of Madeira’s religious
houses, the Santa Clara
Convent (see p16) and the
São Francisco Friary (see p12).
( Mary Jane Wilson
Indian-born founder of a
Madeira-based teaching order.
d Wilson Museum: Rua do
Carmo 61. Open 10am–noon, 3–
5pm Tue–Sat, 10–noon Sun
) Emperor Charles I
Former Austrian emperor,
buried in Monte (see p26) and
beatified by Pope John Paul II.
If you have made a special visit to a church and found it locked,
it’s worth asking about the key at a nearby store or bar.
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