Convento de Santa Clara

The Convento de Santa Clara sits on the Calçada de Santa Clara, on the hillside above the centre of Funchal, on the island of Madeira in Portugal. The convent was established in the closing years of the 15th century for nuns of the Order of Saint Clare, with the patronage of the family of João Gonçalves Zarco, the captain who took possession of Madeira for the Portuguese crown and became the first captain-donee of Funchal. The convent church contains the tomb of Zarco, which is the best-known object for historical visitors and one of the few physical links to the island's earliest settlement. The complex has been altered over five centuries. It was damaged and repaired after the French corsair attack of 1566 and again after later disasters, and the present church interior reflects the taste of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The most admired feature is the carved and painted wooden ceiling in Mudéjar manner, combined with panels of 17th-century polychrome tiles that line the walls of the nave and chancel. Gilded woodcarving and altarpieces in the Baroque style fill the chapels. The convent has a cloister and enclosed garden; the sisters still live in the enclosed part of the building, so only certain areas are open to the public, and the community has been known to make and sell traditional sweets and handicrafts. Visits are normally by short guided tour of the church and public rooms, and opening hours are limited, with closing on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. Admission fees are quoted differently by different sources, so visitors should confirm the price on arrival. The building stands next to the Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas and a short walk from the Quinta das Cruzes, which makes it a natural stop on a walking route through the Santa Clara quarter. A visit lasts about 30 to 45 minutes, and quiet dress and conduct are expected inside this working religious house.