Solar De Sao Cristovao

About

Around 1690, Morgado Cristóvão Moniz de Menezes ordered the construction of a house with a chapel, evoking the saint of his name, which ends in 1692, a date engraved on the stonework of the chapel door. At the top of the stairs, on the wall, an armored tile evokes the coats of arms of the owners (Moniz, Menezes, Câmara, Drummond), heirs in succession to the property, up to Carlos Cristóvão da Câmara Leme Escórcio de Bettencourt. Carlos Cristóvão was the last heir to the manor house, he was born on February 25, 1924, in Funchal and lived in Machico. Died in 1998, he was one of the distinguished figures of Machique culture. He was a poet, novelist, wrote plays and, among his works, stands out the "Elucidário de Machico", whose first edition was published in 1981. The Solar de São Cristóvão has been a dynamic space, whether at a religious, educational or cultural level. A visit to this manor house is an invitation to the past. The memory of this place and these people. Now it's a museum.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 30 minutes