Katedra w Funchal

The Funchal Cathedral is Madeira's architectural jewel, combining Gothic and Manueline styles. Built from blocks of volcanic rock from Cabo Girão, it impresses with a facade featuring a Gothic portal and eight archivolts.

The interior conceals real treasures: a silver processional cross - a gift from King Manuel I - and an impressive altar of gilded wood. Most spectacular, however, is the mudéjar-style ceiling, made of cedar wood and decorated with geometric patterns and gold elements.

It's a site that takes you back to the Portuguese era of geographic discovery and shows the strategic importance of the island.