Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Madeira > Machico > Machico > Terça
The Solar de São Cristóvão is located in the Terça area, within the town of Machico. Its placement on a slope offers a peculiar perspective of the landscape, directly influencing the conception of its structure and giving it a striking presence in the urban area where it is situated.
The history of this imposing manor house dates back to the late 17th century. Built between 1690 and 1692, as attested by the date carved into the stonework of the chapel door, it was the ancestral home of a lineage of wealthy Madeiran families. Its construction was an initiative of the morgado Cristóvão Moniz de Menezes, who desired a residence befitting his status, establishing a legacy that endured through generations of owners, including the Moniz, Menezes, Câmara, and Drummond families.
Over the centuries, the manor witnessed various transformations and uses. It even housed Mother Mary Jane Wilson, who founded a school there in the early 20th century. Later, the building adapted to different functions, including that of a temporary residence for cultural figures. In 2019, the Solar de São Cristóvão reopened its doors, reaffirming its role as a cultural space and a valuable testimony to island history.
The Solar de São Cristóvão is a notable example of Madeiran manor architecture, with distinguishing features. Its north façade, facing the direction from which the strongest winds blow, resembles the solidity of a fortress, with its imposing height and scarcity of openings, a practical solution against natural elements.
The building's complexity is accentuated by its side façades, which, despite differing from each other, reveal adaptation to the slope of the terrain. The south façade, in turn, greatly benefits from this topographical particularity, presenting a harmonious composition. Here, a large stone staircase stands out, leading to a door, once the main entrance to the noble hall. Beneath this staircase, a stone arch, typical of old manor houses, evokes past times. On the wall, a tile with the coats of arms of the families who resided there narrates the history of their lineage.
Inside the Solar de São Cristóvão, visitors can immerse themselves in the daily life of a Madeiran manor house of old. The kitchen still retains its original wood-fired oven, set upon a stone slab, a detail that evokes the authenticity of domestic life. The various rooms house a significant collection of Portuguese and Madeiran furniture, spanning the 17th to 19th centuries, with pieces made from noble woods such as vinhático, mahogany, walnut, and oak, exemplifying the mastery of regional joinery.
The collection also includes a pau-santo canapé and a walnut cabinet piano, in addition to a 17th-century oil painting, "The Miracle of Nazaré," believed to be contemporary with the manor's foundation. Other pieces, such as an 18th-century Portuguese mahogany sideboard, complement the collection, offering a broad insight into the customs and practices of the island's wealthy homes in the 18th and 19th centuries.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 32.7294802,-16.7848744
Coordinates DMS: 32°43'46.1"N 16°47'5.5"W
Weather Machico
On-duty Pharmacy Machico
