colégio dos jesuítas

The guides are students who don't charge for their services. They are very knowledgeable about the history of Funchal.There is a gift shop which sells good quality gifts.The church is not well publicised, but it is worth a visit.

The most amazing Church but not given enough publicity. Don't miss going up to the tower. Not a difficult climb with different levels to stop on. Views are amazing. Seats on the tower for a rest.

The university building hasn't long been open to the public. It is a very peaceful place. Information is well presented for a solo tour but it is also possible to have a guide. This is a very interesting historical building. here is also a small cafe and a lovely shop selling good quality gifts.It is good to attach visit to the beautiful Jesuit church next door.

great chance to hear the history and get to know students coming to the university who work as guidesexcellent café on site and well stocked and sensible prices

A place for study and beautiful church with big dimension , in middle of Funchal .It is very quiet .

aA beautiful church and a peaceful sanctuary which we found by chance in a quiet square near the Municipal buildings.

Somehow we missed this for fifteen years, but worth the wait if you are interested in the history and the elaborate architecture of the Jesuit church, not that the Jesuits have been there for a long time. Easy to find near the town hall in the city centre. We were shown round by a charming and knowledgeable university student as it is now part of the university.

The souvenir shop is a good one, with lots of different stuff such as cheramics, jams, textile - well organised and not more expensive than other places. We also visited a Fado concert by the students' fado club.

A fantastic example of a Jesuit church, with amazing carvings throughout. If you want to go up the tower for some great views over the city, it's only a euro!

This is sandwiched between the rear of the Colegiate Church and the Oliveiras winery tour. The original Jesuit college is now part of the university and used for admin. Fridays and Saturdays there are 1 hour guided tours by the students in a range of languages, giving the history of the Jesuits and the building. Our guide this morning was very knowledgeable telling us how the building would have looked some 450 years ago and the transitions that have taken place over time, both architecturally and politically. This tour is well worth doing but we were only made aware of it by a casual mention by a tour guide. It is possible to pick up a leaflet and walk in at other times but the upper floor is not accessible then.There's also a classy little gift shop on the way out. Profits from the tours and the shop are used to support the university students during their studies

This is well worth visiting and we were given a leaflet on the church when we paid the 1 Euro to go up the tower. The main chapel is enriched with beautiful Madeiran woodcarvings from around 1646. On your way up to the Tower you will see a marvellous statue of Jesus - 'Body Dead; which is apparently put in the church during Lent. There is also a large glass case with a lovely Nativity Display which we took a photo of.

Walk through the doors off the main square and you may well be enthralled - we were. Of a different style to many churches, we gazed in wonder at a number of quite different side altars, ornately carved and presented. Don't forget to study the ceiling. The scale is much bigger than even the cathedral and is easily the best of the large churches in Madeira.

Set in a square up from the cathedral this large baroque church is quite magnificent. It is covered in azuelas (traditional Portuguese tiles} of incredible quality, and gold. There is a splendour about it which contrasts with the relative simplicity of the cathedral. It has a fine modern organ and if you are there in mid to late October look out for the Madeira Organ Festival, several nights of great organ and choral music, free, held each night in a different church not necessarily in Funchal but including this churc and the cathedral, and starting at 9.30 so that you can have dinner first. `but get there early as the seats fill up completely, and certainly dress lightly for both Funchal venues as the churches become very hot.

It was a self guided tour using a little brochure. Most everything has changed from the days it was actually a College for the Jesuits. But the history was interesting, it was free and it killed about 30 minutes of time.

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