São Lourenço Palace Museum

About the São Lourenço Palace

Located in a strategic point of defence of the island, in Avenida Zarco in Funchal, the São Lourenço Palace was built in the 16th century by order of King Dom Manuel I. Having been classified as a National Monument in 1943, it currently houses a museum of great interest.

The rooms of this palace display a vast collection of both Portuguese and European decorative artworks, from the palace itself or transferred from national palaces of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
In addition, visitors to São Lourenço Palace can contemplate a diverse gallery of royal portraits. Of particular note is the portrait of King João VI, painted by Joaquim Leonardo da Rocha, an artist born in the 18th century who was very active in Madeira.

A visit to São Lourenço Palace is a must, above all, due to its historical importance. In 1836, the museum was separated into two areas: the Palace, the headquarters of the official residence of the Civil Governor, to the west; and the Military Area, assigned to the Command of the Madeira Military Zone, to the east.

In 1976, the area until then occupied by the Civil Governor became the Official Residence of the Representative of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of Madeira.