Museu Monte Palace

About the museum

The Museu Monte Palace is located at the highest point of the Jardim Tropical Monte Palace, in the parish of Monte, in Funchal. In the 18th century the property was a pleasure estate of the English consul Charles Murray, known as the Quinta do Prazer. In 1897 Alfredo Guilherme Rodrigues bought the land and had a manor house built, later converted into the Monte Palace Hotel.

The site took its present form from 1987, thanks to the vision of José Berardo, who turned the property into a tropical garden of some 70,000 m², with plants from several continents, Oriental gardens, sculptures and azulejo tile panels.

The museum occupies three floors. On the ground floor is the collection of minerals, precious stones and petrified wood, with some 700 specimens from various countries. The two upper floors display modern and contemporary art from the Berardo collection, with more than 200 works, including pieces by Joaquín Torres-García, Lourdes Castro and Joana Vasconcelos. The interior of the former palace is not open to the public.

Highlights

• Collection of about 700 minerals and precious stones, with petrified wood
• More than 200 works of modern and contemporary art from the Berardo collection
• Works by Joaquín Torres-García, Lourdes Castro and Joana Vasconcelos
• Admission included in the Jardim Tropical Monte Palace ticket

Permanent exhibitions

• O Mundo começa aqui! – Modern and contemporary works from the Berardo Collection, shown for the first time in this space, on the two upper floors of the museum.
• Coleção de minerais e pedras preciosas – Some 700 specimens of minerals and precious stones from various countries, with petrified wood from Argentina, on the ground floor.

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Residents of Madeira enter free on 1 July, upon proof of residence.

The €18 ticket includes the garden, the museum and a tasting of Moscatel wine at the Bluehouse Café. No other discounts apply. Schools: free admission with prior booking.

Accessibility

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

The garden ground is sloping and may be difficult for people with very limited mobility. A guided trolley service links the central lake to the entrance at Caminho das Babosas, 4 (€5 per adult per journey). Accessible toilets near the entrance to the minerals collection and by the Bluehouse Café.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Free admission for children up to age 14. There is reserved parking for prams (ask at the ticket offices), and nappy-changing facilities near the entrance to the minerals collection and in the Bluehouse Café.

Getting there & parking

Entrances: Caminho das Babosas, 4-A (next to the cable car), Caminho das Babosas, 4 (north entrance) and Belvedere Entrance (east entrance).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Wi-Fi

Cafés in the garden: Greenhouse, Bluehouse Café, Poncha Bar and Piña Colada. Free Wi-Fi across much of the garden. Food and drink brought from outside are allowed in the garden, but not in the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit