Housed in the former Bishop’s Palace of Funchal, the museum contains collections of paintings, sculptures, gold and silver objects and vestments dating from the end of the 15th century to the 19th century.

One of the highlights of the Flemish Art section is a collection of 15th and 16th-century Flemish paintings which arrived in Madeira during the height of the island’s sugar production days. The Flemish panels are especially noteworthy because of their magnificent quality and large size, uncommon in European museums.

Another highlight of the museum is its collection of Flemish sculpture, mainly from Mechelen and Antwerp.

In the Portuguese Art section, there are collections of paintings, vestments and gold and silver objects, one of the highlights of which is a cross donated to the Funchal’s Cathedral by King Manuel I. These collections contain works from the 16th to the 19th centuries.