Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Madeira > Funchal > Achada > São Pedro
Situated on Calçada de Santa Clara, a steep street in the historic area of São Pedro, the Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas stands out in the urban environment of Funchal's city centre. Its presence is notable due to its size and the reddish colour that distinguishes it.
This building has a long history, dating back to the 17th century, when it served as the residence of the Counts of Calçada family, which is why it is also known as Casa da Calçada. Over time, it underwent several alterations and extensions. In the 19th century, in particular, the interventions gave it a romantic character, with features that can be seen as exotic, shaping the appearance we know today and integrating it into the civil architecture of the area.
In the mid-20th century, the house became the residence of Frederico de Freitas (1894-1978). This lawyer, notary, and collector dedicated about forty years to assembling an extensive collection of artworks. His move to this dwelling allowed him to organize his collections in a particular way, transforming the house itself into a stage for his collection. After his death, this valuable collection was bequeathed to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, giving rise to the Casa-Museu.
One of the Casa-Museu's routes is a visit to the old Casa da Calçada, which seeks to preserve the atmosphere of a historic residence and the collector's personal touch. By exploring the various rooms, one can observe how Frederico de Freitas arranged his objects, both artistic and utilitarian, evoking the experiences and functionalities of bygone days. This space offers a glimpse into the daily life and taste of those who lived and collected there.
The Casa-Museu features a space exclusively dedicated to tilework. This area, known as Casa dos Azulejos (House of Tiles), was designed to house a remarkable and varied collection. Across four floors, visitors can embark on a journey through the history of tiles, from the 13th century to the present day. The collection includes pieces of diverse origins, such as Islamic and European production, with a significant collection of Dutch tilework and an important core of national manufacture, presented through panels and individual examples.
Integrated into the visit to Casa da Calçada is the Garden above the Calçada. This is a rare example of an elevated garden in the city of Funchal, which has retained its traditional characteristics. It is a tranquil space with the original layout of flowerbeds, pebble paths, a vine corridor, and the small, charming Pleasure House.
The collection assembled by Frederico de Freitas encompasses a wide range of decorative art pieces. In addition to tiles, the collection includes sculpture, painting, furniture, ceramics, engravings, crystals, and pewter objects, mostly dating between the 17th and 19th centuries. Noteworthy are the engravings depicting elements of Madeira's culture and landscape from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as a set of religious sculpture and painting.
The Casa-Museu also features areas dedicated to temporary exhibitions. These spaces offer complementary perspectives on the museum, the collector, and the vast collection of pieces that make up his legacy, providing new discoveries for visitors.
To facilitate visits for everyone, the museum space is equipped with a ramp at the main entrance, a lift for inter-floor movement, and adapted restrooms.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 32.6500549,-16.9123774
Coordinates DMS: 32°39'0.2"N 16°54'44.6"W
Weather Achada
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