Santa Clara Convent in Funchal

Santa Clara Convent, or Convento de Santa Clara, is located just 15 minutes walk from the Municipal Gardens in Funchal.

Perhaps the main reason for visiting the convent is to view the burial place of João Gonçalves Zarco, the Portuguese discoverer of Madeira.

However, for those interested in religious art and church buildings, the guided tour will be enjoyable. For others, it holds little more than a passing interest value.

Alongside the convent is a 15th century church and viewing this is perhaps the highlight of the tour.

As you make your way around, the state of the buildings will leave you in little doubt of their age. There is a predominance of creaking wood and high painted ceilings.

Key Facts

To gain entry, you will most probably need to ring the bell at the main entrance on the Calçada de Santa Clara.

The guided tour around the convent will take about 30 minutes. There are no set times, the tours just start as and when people arrive.

Your guide will likely be one of the Sisters of the convent. So, expect a rather stilted commentary in not too perfect English or, of course, Portuguese. On occasion, we have heard some French being attempted.

If you are particularly interested in the history of the convent and want a more detailed account, there is an informative pamphlet on sale at reception.

When we toured, we engage in some friendly conversation with the Sister who was our guide. In doing so we not only gained a further insight into the convent, but also discovered that the Sister had led a very interesting life having visited many countries.

Santa Clara Convent
Location	Calçada de Santa Clara, 9000-206 Funchal
Opening times: Monday to Saturday Sunday Closed on holidays	10:00am to noon and 3:00pm to 5:00pm 10:00am to noon -
Admission Prices	€2:00
Telephone	(351) 291 742 602
(Details correct at August 2010)

The Tomb of João Gonçalves Zarco

Santa Clara church contains the tomb of João Gonçalves Zarco. This is situated under the raised, wooden floor in front of the high altar.

If your guide shows no inclination of showing you the burial site, politely ask to be shown. A wooden trap door is easily opened revealing the precise spot where the mortal remains of João Gonçalves Zarco, along with those of his wife and son, lay.

The tombstone is somewhat unimpressive, but that does not detract from its significance.

At the rear of the church, set into a recess, is a stone tomb that contains the mortal remains of Zarco's daughter and her husband, Martim Mendes de Vasconcelos.

Directions

By Foot:-

Santa Clara Convent is easily reached on foot. It is situated part way up the hill that rises behind Funchal Municipal Gardens.

Having found the Municipal Gardens on the Avenida Arriaga, walk through them to the top, right hand exit.

The narrow street leading up from the gardens is the Rua São Francisco. Walk up here for about 20 metres until you reach the T-junction.

Turn left into the Rua da Carreira. After a short distance, turn right to climb the narrow Rua do Surdo.

Continue up this steep hill until you find the entrance to the Santa Clara Convent on your left.

On the map above the red trace shows the route to Santa Clara Convent from the Municipal Gardens.

1 = Quinta das Cruzes museum

2 = Santa Clara Convent

3 = Rotunda do Infante

Madeira Features

Passeio Publico do Lido

If your staying in the hotel district of Funchal, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting a restaurant for your evening meal.

After you have dined though, what better way to end the perfect day than to take a gentle stroll in the public park that lies adjacent to the nearby Lido.

Many people do not venture down the short hill to the seafront - and they are surely missing out.

Just set back from the coast is the lovely Passeio Publico do Lido.

Many locals can be found in this park as the hot sun of the day wanes. Surely, there can be no better way to end your day than to watch the fading glow of the setting sun over the Atlantic from this oasis set apart from the tangle of hotels.

Funchal's Gate Varadouro

The Old City Gate was originally constructed in 1689 as part of Funchal's fortifications.

That Funchal needed protection from pirates and foreign aggression was in little doubt. The city was often attacked by marauding forces from passing ships.

Finally, the fortification became largely redundant in the late nineteenth century and the gate Varadouro was eventually dismantled in 1911. Fortunately, key aspects of the gate and its design were preserved. Then, in 2004, to contribute to the city's 500th anniversary celebrations, Funchal's Gate Varadouro was rebuilt in its original location.