Museu de Fotografia da Madeira

About the museum

The museum occupies the former studio of Vicente Gomes da Silva, an engraver who began to take photographs around 1852 and in 1865 bought the house on what is now Rua da Carreira, where he built his studio. Remodelled and extended in 1886–1887 by him and his son, the studio received distinctions from the Austro-Hungarian court, for a portrait of Empress Isabel, and from the Portuguese Royal Household, and it remained in operation for four generations, until the 1970s.

The Regional Government of Madeira acquired the entire collection in 1979, and the museum opened on 22 March 1982 under the name Photographia – Museu Vicentes. It closed in 2014 for works and reopened on 29 July 2019 with its current name, Museu de Fotografia da Madeira, the only national museum entirely dedicated to photography.

In addition to the Atelier Vicente's collection, with sets, cameras, furniture and an archive estimated at three to four million specimens since the 1850s, the museum holds the holdings of many other Madeiran and foreign photographers, as well as audiovisual material from the former Madeira Tourism Delegation.

Highlights

• Reconstruction of Vicente Gomes da Silva's 19th-century photographic studio
• Overview of photographic processes, from the daguerreotype to the first colour photographs
• Archive of millions of photographs since the 1850s
• Permanent exhibition with Madeiran authors of the 19th and 20th centuries
• Magic lantern and stereoscopy

Permanent exhibitions

• Atelier Vicente’s – Reconstruction of the 19th-century photographic studio, with sets, cameras, furniture and frames with original photographs.
• História dos processos fotográficos – Route from the daguerreotype to the first colour photographs, passing through the magic lantern and stereoscopy.
• Exposição permanente de autores do acervo – Representative works by Madeiran and foreign photographers from the 19th and 20th centuries, including the holdings of the great photography houses of Madeira.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Direção Regional da Cultura (Governo Regional da Madeira)

Admission & discounts

Young people aged 13 to 25: €3; adults aged 26 to 64: €6. Free access to the temporary exhibitions.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the Regional Directorate of Culture, the museum is adapted for visitors with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The education service offers workshops and activities for children and families, especially during school holidays.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the centre of Funchal and no transport is needed to get there; the addresses given are Rua da Carreira, 43, and Avenida Zarco, 21.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop, multimedia room with presentations on distinguished visitors and a documentary film, and library; the café was announced as “opening soon”.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit