Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte

The Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte stands in the village of Monte, on the hillside above Funchal, on the island of Madeira in Portugal, at Largo da Fonte. Monte has been a place of pilgrimage since a chapel to Our Lady was founded here in the 15th century, and the shrine is associated with the patron saint of Madeira, whose feast is celebrated each year on 15 August with a large procession and festival. The present church is a Baroque building constructed in the 18th century to replace earlier structures, and it was reopened for worship after an earthquake damaged the older church in 1748. Its facade is framed by two towers and approached by a monumental staircase of 68 steps, which pilgrims traditionally climb on their knees at festival time. A small image of Our Lady of Monte, venerated by islanders, is the focus of devotion inside. A second claim to historical interest is the tomb of Charles I of Austria, the last Habsburg emperor, who was exiled to Madeira after the First World War and died in Funchal on 1 April 1922. His body lies in a chapel at the side of the church, and he was beatified by the Catholic Church in 2004, which brings pilgrims from central Europe. The interior is relatively simple with whitewashed walls, gilded altarpieces and a carved altar, while the setting is memorable, with views over Funchal and the bay. The church is reached from the centre of Funchal by cable car, by bus or by road, and it lies close to the Monte Palace gardens and the starting point of the traditional wicker toboggan descent. Entry is free and the church is usually open from morning to early evening, outside Mass times. A visit lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, and the staircase and plaza are worth time in their own right. Visitors should dress modestly.