Function: the main religious temple of the island.
Classification: classified as a National Monument in 1910.
Impact: the biggest monument of the region,
Changes: it is unchanged since the time of its construction.
Liturgical Orientation: East-West
Construction: constructed using thousands of blocks of volcanic rocks carried from Cabo Girão.
Façade: very simple façade, constructed in three planes, the central one is made of red stonework, the sides use plaster painted white; most of the facades are made with plaster painted white and stonework corners; Portal: gothic portal with thin archivolts;
The Bell Tower:
Plan: Latin cross shaped floor plan.
Interiors: has a structure in so-called Mendicant Gothic style; most of the objects of the interior were offered to the church by D. Manuel I.
Ceiling: considered to be one of the most beautiful ceilings in Portugal, it is made with wood found on the island. The Mudéjar ceiling, influenced by moorish culture, is made of cedar wood with ivory inlay and detailing.
Light: direct light from the three “naves escalonadas”.
Mudéjar influences: geometric work on the ceiling (borrowed from islamic art) – made from the island’s cedar wood, with ivory inlay and detailing – and predominant use of hispanic-mourish tile (from the 18th century).
Sculpture/relief: saints, cherubs carrying bunches of bananas and wineskins (rich decorative work).
‘Cadeiral da Capela-Mor’: connected/created by Olivier de Gand (Flemish sculptor active in Portugal at the time) and to Mestre Machim (his disciple); combines Biblical references (saints, prophets, and others) with references of Madeira (banana’s and the transport of wine); Flemish example.
Silver Processional Cross/‘Cruz processional’: offered/donated to the church by D. Manuel I, designed in silver, it is a masterpiece of Manueline jewelry (currently on display at the Museum of Arte Sacra)
Pope John Paul II Statue: a statue of Pope John Paul II is located outside the cathedral.
Main altarpiece: polyptych with twelve oil paintings on wood, commissioned to the flemish inspired workshop of Francisco Henriques (in Évora), Master of Lourinhã and other, in 1512-1517 (framing from the Machim Fernandes and João Tojal workshop, in 1514-1517), in the late gothic style frame and a large overhead with the heraldry of the king Manuel I.
Polyptych: commissioned by the king Manuel I, in 1510-1515 – oil on canvas, gold leaf intricate gothic frame and overhead, technical quality of the execution, only manueline altarpiece remaining in its original location.
Processional Cross: timid gothic style, inspired in architecture, commissioned by the King in 1514, the second most important religious jeweled pieces (on display on Museu de Arte Sacra do Funchal).