Igreja do Socorro

1128 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

May, 2019

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Solo

Reasons for trip

This is an attractive church, at the far end of Rua Santa Maria in the old town and well away from the tourist bustle and restaurants.

It s a typical Madeiran church with a stark black and white exterior. It is a big church and almost impossible to photograph with the trees. Above the doorway is a white marble statue of Our Lady, explaining why it is also referred to as Igreja de Santa Maria Maior on some sites.

The church was built in 1768, replacing an earlier church that was heavily damaged in an earthquake. Only the carved doors into the church survive.

After the bright sunshine, the inside can seem quite dark at first with the only natural light coming in through the doors, two small windows above them and the small stained glass window in the chancel. This is one of the few examples of stained glass in a Madeiran church. There are two electric lights at the back of the church and a floodlight in the chancel.

The main altar takes up the whole of the east wall and the word impressive hardly describes it. It is a wonderful example of OTT Baroque work with a massive wedding cake style tabernacle. There are two smaller, but equally as good altars on either side of the chancel arch.

There is plenty else to enjoy too with a painted ceiling and pulpit. There are lovely picture azulejo tiles on the chancel walls and a tiled baptistry at the back of the church.

The church is open 9.30-12.30 and 2-6. It is free to enter and worth finding but be warned it is reached up a steep set of steps.

All my Madeira pictures are “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/madeira/index.html

ESW

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.