The Legislative Assembly of Madeira (ALR), formerly «Alfândega Nova», was built by King D. Manuel I between 1508 and 1519. Its main function was to collect sugar taxes.
On the first floor, next to the north elevation, we find rooms with ceilings of Spanish-Moorish tradition, in polychrome cedar wood. Of the existing rooms, the octagonal ceiling of the old Tales Room stands out, which presents a complex work, very identical to the ceilings of the Funchal Cathedral, with geometric interlaces, originating in an 8-pointed star, rosettes, stalactites and pendants, although the current polychrome is not the original.
It is believed that the author of the cathedral ceilings and costums was possibly Pedro Annes, a native of Lisbon (?), Identified as a master, a carpenter, a foreman and a master representative at the Funchal City Hall, signing with ruler and square.
CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF “MUDÉJARES” CEILINGS OF THE “SÉ” OF FUNCHAL
Application for community funds through the project M1420-05-2114-FEDER-000023 - Conservation and Restoration of the “Mudéjares” Ceilings of the Funchal Cathedral, approved by the Regional Development Institute, IP-RAM, on 05/05/2019.
Photography - Nuno Rodrigues and Ricardo Faria Paulino
march 2020
Credits: Direção de Serviços de Museus e Património Cultural