Church of Our Lady of Monte
The Church of Our Lady of Monte (Portuguese: Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte) is the main church in the Freguesia (Parish in English) of Monte (Funchal), Madeira.
| Church of Our Lady of Monte | |
|---|---|
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte | |
 Church of Our Lady of Monte | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Year consecrated | December 20, 1818 |
| Location | |
| Location | Monte, Madeira. |
| Geographic coordinates | 32°40′33.6″N 16°54′09.0″W |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | June 10, 1741 |
| Completed | 1748 |
| Website | |
| www | |
History
In 1470 a chapel (dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Encarnação) was built on this site by Adão Gonçalves Ferreira, the first man born in Madeira.
On 10 June 1741, the first stone of the current Church dedicated to Our Lady of Monte was laid. A few months after the church was completed, the Church was seriously affected by an earthquake on 31 March 1748. It was rebuilt and on 20 December 1818 the Church was finally consecrated by the Archbishop of Meliapor and administrator of the Diocese D. Frei Joaquim de Meneses e Ataíde.[1]
Emperor Charles I of Austria died in exile on Madeira and was laid to rest in the church.
Festival
The Assumption of Mary was first celebrated on 15 August 1551 and is one of the biggest arraial's (street party in English) still celebrated today on the grounds of the church, where fires are made by locals and local food is made such as Espetada, Bolo do caco, and Bacalhau.[2]
References
- "A NOSSA HISTÓRIA (in Portuguese)". Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- "Nossa Senhora do Monte Festival". Retrieved 16 August 2017.
