São Salvador Church

Located on the east coast of the island, more precisely in the municipality of Santa Cruz, the São Salvador Church is considered one of the most beautiful religious spaces on the island of Madeira. Its imposing structure makes it the second largest church in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

Built in the 16th century, inspired by the model of the Funchal Cathedral, the São Salvador Church combines fantastic architecture with an incredible Gothic-Manueline interior style. The church exhibits a structure that has remained intact for centuries, as well as a beautiful bell tower and an ogival portal with colonnades and archivolts.

When inside the church, all eyes are drawn to the chancel. Topped by a ribbed vault resting on corbels, it features a polyptych with six oil paintings on wood, dating from the 16th century by a good Portuguese workshop. However, the artistic heritage of the São Salvador Church doesn't stop there. The liturgical implements include a splendid gilded silver chalice. This piece of art features some transition elements between Gothic and the assumption of the language of the Roman Renaissance.