Fort of São Tiago

The Fort of São Tiago was built in 1614 to defend the city, and was named after the patron saint of Funchal, St James the Less. There were additions in 1746 and the fort has been restored and now houses the Museum of Contemporary Art, which opened in 1992. The fort is a maze of passages and staircases and offers fine views over Funchal, it also has an agreeable restaurant.
Fort Sao Tiago museum has a great collection of Portuguese art, dating back to the 1960s. This museum has been open to the public since 1992 and is considered to be one of the top 5 museums in Portugal. It also promotes and hosts private exhibits from several artists and institutions.