Pilgrim church Nossa Senhora do Monte, Funchal – Madeira, Portugal

In 1470, a chapel (dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Encarnação) was built on this site by Adão Gonçalves Ferreira, the first man born in Madeira .

The Monte church, built in the 18th century, features eighteenth- and eighteenth-century architecture. In the left side chapel is the tomb of Charles of Habsburg, the last emperor of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia.

The Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte was built in the 18th century on the foundations of the primitive chapel of the 15th century by order of Adão Gonçalves, son of Gonçalo Aires Ferreira, squire of the Infant and settler of the island. Later, due to worship demands and the increase in the number of believers, the church was enlarged. In 1748 an earthquake destroyed the church, and it was rebuilt in 1818.
On the main altar is the image of Our Lady of Monte, venerated since the early days of settlement on the island of Madeira.

In the side chapel of this church is the tomb of Charles of Habsburg, Emperor of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia, exiled in 1921 in Madeira. Inside the church it is also possible to appreciate beautiful pieces of carved goldsmith’s work from the 17th and 18th centuries.On August 15th we celebrate the day of Our Lady of Monte, patron saint of the Diocese and the city of Funchal.

Photos and Text: Rainer Georgius