Funchal Cathedral

Funchal Cathedral was built by the first Portuguese colonists on the island of Madeira. The cathedral is an architectural meld of Gothic and Romanesque styles, as is evident in the pointed arch of the main portal, set against a heavy masonry façade of basalt. Originally a church, the structure was made a cathedral in 1514. Its interior is richly ornamented in the Manueline style, an innovative synthesis of Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Flemish elements, with bits of maritime and Late Gothic design. The Mudéjar ceiling is notable for its geometric and animal designs carved from juniper and cedar and inlaid with ivory. Thirteen Flemish paintings on oak panels were obscured by years of candles, dirt, and old varnish coatings. The cathedral was designated a national monument in 1910.

Critical stabilization and restoration ensured the survival of the cathedral

We became involved at Funchal in 2000, with support made possible by the Robert W. Wilson to Conserve Our Heritage. In 2002, the preliminary work began for conserving the cathedral. The stone masonry’s deterioration was addressed, after which the deterioration rate of the volcanic tuff masonry decreased significantly. Installation of downspouts allowed the fragile stone to dry out and strengthen, so more invasive interventions were not needed. In 2006 we began work on the exterior conservation of the cathedral, including the façade, portal, rose window, balustrade of the Holy Sacrament chapel, and the stone masonry, to improve drainage and thereby improve protection of the building from water. In 2009, we supported completion of the exterior and tower restoration, as well as partial restoration of the interior. The project partner, the Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs, contributed matching funds for each phase of the project.

Once the exterior stonework was restored, and the terrace roof tiles were waterproofed, work began on the conservation of the interior, beginning with the sixteenth-century main altarpiece, one of the few Flemish altarpieces that have remained in situ. Work included the cleaning and treatment of the altarpiece gilded sculptures, painting panels and wall support, and reconstruction of deteriorated carved wood elements, all completed in 2014. Critical stabilization and restoration measures ensured the survival of the cathedral and its accessibility to the public.