Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 32.64961658409038, -16.94333197574795

The Church of São Martinho is the main church in the parish of São Martinho, in the municipality of Funchal, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. It is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours.

History

The old church at the bottom of the hill had become too small for the area and so construction began on July 8, 1883 on the current church of the same name, with the first stone being laid. The lack of funds interrupted construction until August 2, 1907, when the local parishioner José de Abreu died leaving almost all of his fortune, which at the time was large, for the continuation of the works on the same church.

Party

The main festival celebrated is São Martinho Day, celebrated on the 10th and 11th of November, in the church grounds, where fireworks are lit by residents and local food is prepared, such as roasted chestnuts (marking the beginning of the new chestnut harvest season), skewers, bolo do caco and codfish. The grapes that were harvested a few months earlier and turned into wine are first tasted on this day.