The parish of Ribeira Brava is home to one of the oldest rural temples in the Diocese of Funchal - and one of the most visited in Madeira.
We're talking about the São Bento Church, a religious monument classified as Property of Public Interest that you really must visit on the island's west coast.
This temple was built in the 16th century, deriving from a small 15th-century chapel. It has, of course, undergone many changes up to the present day. Currently, it is still possible to identify several Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque features in this building.
Situated on Rua dos Camachos, the São Bento Church houses a rich collection of 16th and 17th-century paintings, sculptures, goldsmithery and gilded woodcarvings. It is one of the most important heritage sets in the region, and its treasure has even been exhibited in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels.
Inside the São Bento Church, the chandeliers and the collection of 16th and 17th-century silver pieces stand out. It is also worth highlighting the image of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, dated 1520, and the panels with biblical motifs, both Flemish. The chancel is, in turn, dominated by an 18th-century altarpiece with gilded and polychrome woodcarvings.
Located in the centre of the town of Ribeira Brava, the São Bento Church is an unavoidable monument in this region, exhibiting a priceless architectural, historical and artistic heritage.
