On Calçada de Santa Clara in Funchal, this museum occupies the former home of Madeiran lawyer and collector Frederico de Freitas. Its rooms retain the feel of a furnished historic house, with period furniture, ceramics, religious objects and other pieces collected across several centuries. A separate tile museum adds Portuguese azulejos and examples from beyond Portugal, including tiles from Spain, Persia, Turkey, Holland and Syria. Take time to look closely at the collections and the house itself; views from the mansion add another reason to pause.
The house and its collector
The museum is named for Frederico de Freitas, a Madeiran lawyer and notary who collected decorative arts. He leased the property in 1941 and lived there until his death in 1978. The building was known as Casa da Calçada, or the Calçada House, and had previously been associated with the Counts of Calçada and their family.
The house has the character of a historic residence rather than a sequence of bare gallery rooms. Its interiors contain English-style furniture, paintings, ceramics, porcelain, sculpture, prints, glass and metal objects. The collections span several centuries, with pieces from the 17th to the 19th centuries among the objects on display. Religious images, small wooden boxes, chests and Toby jugs are also part of the varied collection.
A room-by-room English guide booklet is available to help you follow the visit. The house's library and indoor winter garden are among the spaces to look out for as you move through the interiors.
Casa dos Azulejos
A separate building houses the tile collection. Portuguese tiles form an important part of the display, including examples salvaged from demolished buildings on Madeira. The collection also includes decorative tiles from Spain, Persia, Turkey, Holland and Syria, with pieces dating from medieval times through the 19th century.
The tile museum is a smaller part of the visit, but it brings together examples from different places and periods. Look closely at the painted surfaces and patterns, and compare the Portuguese works with tiles from elsewhere. Together, the house and tile displays show two distinct parts of Frederico de Freitas's collecting interests.
Planning your visit
Set aside time for both the furnished house and the tile museum. Accounts of visit length range from under half an hour to around 90 minutes, depending on how closely you explore the rooms and displays. Arriving early has been a way to see the collections with fewer people around.
Photography is not permitted inside the museum. Keep your camera away while viewing the rooms and objects, and follow staff guidance. The museum has an admission fee. Madeira residents may be eligible for free admission through the Simplifica or Madeira Safe points mentioned in the available visitor information; check the museum's current arrangements before relying on this.
Häufige Fragen
How long should I allow for the museum?
Allow around 30 to 90 minutes. The visit includes the furnished house and a separate tile collection.
Can you take photographs inside?
No. Photography is not allowed inside the museum.
What can you see at the tile museum?
The separate display includes Portuguese azulejos and tiles from Spain, Persia, Turkey, Holland and Syria, dating from medieval times to the 19th century.
Who was Frederico de Freitas?
He was a Madeiran lawyer, notary and collector who leased the house in 1941. The museum displays furniture, ceramics, sculpture, paintings and other objects he collected.
