One of the most remarkable buildings in Funchal, the Rectory of the University of Madeira, is now open to visitors.
One of the most remarkable buildings of Funchal, the Jesuit´s College, is now open to visitors. These guided tours are an initiative of the University of Madeira´s Academic Association seeing that the building is the rectory of the university.
Founded in 1569 by the royal charter of D.Sebastião, the Jesuit´s College of Funchal started lectures the following year. At the end of the XVI century, it was transferred to its current premises. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Portugal, the building was used for several purposes during the XVIII century and not all for educational ones. It was used as British military headquarters during the Napoleonic invasions, a school, Portuguese military headquarters and today the head office of the University of Madeira.
Daily visits to the ground floor of the building are free of charge. A circuit map including all relevant point is available for each visitor. Doors are open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm and on Saturdays between 10am and 4pm.
Guided tours are organized for groups of 5 to 15 people or via reservations which can be made up to 48 hours beforehand. There tours are priced at 5 euros with a 25% discount for students and for the over 65. This amount reverts to the maintenance of the building.
A large part of the college can be viewed during the guided tour. The tour carried out on the inside part of the building provides visitors with an insight on architectural testaments of the military and Jesuit occupation as well as the several educational institutions that have previously used those premises, amongst them the stone ledge windows, former cells presently used as offices, the library, staircase and the chapel.
The exterior of the building is a result of centuries of modifications arranged by rectors and Jesuit visitors, diocesan prelates, civil governors, military commanders’ and most recently by university, council and regional authorities.
The decision to open the Jesuit´s College to the general public is part of the project undertaken by the Academic Association to further develop the site. The planned routes were organized with supporting scientific knowledge supplied by historian Rui Carita, professor at the University of Madeira.
