Project
FUNCHAL CATHEDRAL
- WMF Program:Field Project
- Keywords:cathedral, gothic, Mudéjar style, stone masonry
- Site Types:Sacred
- Funders:Robert W. Wilson Challenge
Construction on the Funchal church on the island of Madeira began around 1500 after the arrival of the first Portuguese colonists. In 1514, while the building was still under construction, the church became a cathedral. Construction continued throughout the 16th century. The architectural of the cathedral is known as Manueline to connote its association with King Manuel I. The interior decoration contains Mudéjar and late Flemish Gothic elements. The plan of the church is a Latin cross and it contains a native white cedar timber ceiling. Funchal Cathedral is in poor condition, as it has suffered from structural deterioration and problems resulting from high humidity. The exterior stone surfaces are severely damaged, caused by certain segments containing porous local stone that has not withstood the test of time as a building material. The terrace roof over the area, which has a tile covering, needs to be waterproofed to provide greater protection to the interior.
In 2002 WMF became involved with the preliminary work for conserving the cathedral, including the condition survey of the stone masonry to determine how to address the visible deterioration problems on the monument. The deterioration rate of the volcanic tuff masonry has decreased significantly following work to address these problems. The 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, decorated portal, rose window and balustrade of the Holy Sacrament chapel, and the stone masonry on the rest of the cathedral. The objective of this phase of work was to improve drainage to improve protection of the building from water. In 2009, WMF supported completion of the exterior and tower restoration, as well as for partial restoration of the interior. The project partner, the Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs (DRAC), contributed matching funds for each phase of the project.
World Monuments Fund and WMF Portugal have played a significant role in the restoration of this monumental cathedral in Madeira. Critical stabilization and restoration measures were carried out, ensuring the survival of the cathedral and its accessibility to the public. The final phase of the conservation of the cathedral will be the restoration of the interiors, including the 16th-century Mudéjar wooden ceiling.
















