São Lourenço Palace

The Palace of São Lourenço, in Funchal

The Palace of São Lourenço is a former fortress become a palace, one of the most important monuments of Funchal. The Funchal audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this strategic building, a witness of the defence and the history of Madeira.

A fortress become a palace

Located at a strategic point of the defence of Funchal, facing the sea, the Palace of São Lourenço is a former fortress built to protect the city from the attacks of pirates and corsairs. Over the centuries, it also became an official residence. Today, it houses both the residence of the representative of the Republic in Madeira and a military museum. With its bastions, its cannons and its historic halls, it testifies to the eventful past of the island.

What to see

You admire the bastions, the cannons and the historic halls of the former fortress facing the sea, which today houses a military museum and an official residence. The Palace of São Lourenço testifies to the defensive past of Funchal. It is a stop for lovers of history, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Palace of São Lourenço lies in the heart of Funchal, facing the sea, reachable on foot. The façade can be freely admired; as the building houses an official residence and a military museum, interior access follows its own hours and conditions, which vary. It is best to enquire before coming.

What does the Palace of São Lourenço house?

The residence of the representative of the Republic in Madeira and a military museum; it is a former defensive fortress of Funchal, facing the sea.

Where is the Palace of São Lourenço?

In the heart of Funchal, facing the sea, in Madeira.