São Salvador Church
Parish Church of Santa Cruz — Where History Meets Gothic Grandeur

Area

Santa Cruz
Type
Church or Cemetery
Entrance Fees
Free
Good To Know
Why visit São Salvador Church? Because boring churches don’t have Gothic-Manueline mashups and 500-year-old paintings staring back at you!
Nestled on Madeira's sunny east coast, in charming Santa Cruz, São Salvador Church is the gem for architecture lovers. Not only is it the second largest church in Madeira, but it also boasts centuries of stories within its walls. Built in the 16th century and inspired by the iconic Funchal Cathedral, it showcases a jaw-dropping Gothic-Manueline interior that has stood the test of time.
Step inside and prepare to be amazed. The stunning chancel, crowned by a ribbed vault and decorated with a six-panel polyptych from a renowned Portuguese workshop, commands your attention. And if you’re into rare treasures, don’t miss the gilded silver chalice — a perfect blend of Gothic elegance and early Renaissance vibes.
Locals lovingly call it the Santa Cruz Parish Church, but visitors simply call it unforgettable.
Opening Hours
Opening hours change often. Just go there an give it a try.
Location
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Sometimes it's not so easy to find the exact location of the Sight. That's why we've included the GPS coordinates.
32.688368292962785
-16.79242495054658