Museu Quinta das Cruzes

About the museum

The Quinta das Cruzes is documented as the last residence of João Gonçalves Zarco, the first captain-donatary of Funchal. It was extended by his son, João Gonçalves da Câmara, remained with the Câmara family until the 17th century and then passed to the Lomelino family, who transformed it, adding the arcade on the main façade, the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade and the main body of the house. It was classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1947.

The museum originated in the deed of 19 December 1946, by which César Filipe Gomes donated his collection of art and antiquities to the Junta Geral do Distrito Autónomo do Funchal, with the aim of setting up an art museum on the estate. The State acquired the property in 1948 to create a museum of decorative arts there, to which the collections of João Wetzler and other donors were added.

The collection comprises painting, sculpture, glyptics, goldsmithing, jewellery, ceramics, drawing, printmaking and furniture, of Portuguese and foreign origin, notably English, from the 15th century to the first half of the 20th century. In the gardens you can see the Orquestrofone, a mechanical musical instrument from 1900, and the Parque Arqueológico, with sculptural elements from the 15th to the 19th centuries.

Highlights

• House and chapel of a Madeiran estate associated with João Gonçalves Zarco
• Decorative arts collections from the 15th to the 20th centuries
• Portuguese and foreign furniture, ceramics, goldsmithing and jewellery
• Parque Arqueológico in the gardens
• Orquestrofone from 1900
• Café-terrace in the gardens

Permanent exhibitions

• Coleções de artes decorativas – Painting, sculpture, goldsmithing, jewellery, ceramics, drawing, printmaking and furniture, of Portuguese and foreign origin, from the 15th century to the first half of the 20th century, in a country house with a chapel.
• Parque Arqueológico e jardins – The gardens contain sculptural elements from the 15th to the 19th centuries and the Orquestrofone, a mechanical musical instrument from 1900.

Founded

1946

Operated by

Direção Regional da Cultura (Governo Regional da Madeira)

Admission & discounts

Young people aged 13 to 25: €5; adults aged 26 to 64: €10. Free admission also for members of APOM and ICOM or other museology associations, journalists, guides and tourism professionals on duty, and staff of the Direção Regional da Cultura.

Accessibility

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

The museum offers access for visitors with reduced mobility and editions in Braille for blind visitors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The educational service is also aimed at children and young people; the museum publishes a children's newsletter.

Getting there & parking

Accessible on foot from the city centre or by taxi.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café-terrace in the gardens; shop at the entrance, with guides, postcards, catalogues and reproductions of pieces. Library and documentation centre with more than 6,000 bibliographic items, for researchers, teachers and students.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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