Before you go
Before you go: arrival, garden, stairs and house rules
A practical checklist for the Funchal guitar concert: when to arrive, what happens in the garden, the stairs, the rules in the church and what to do about dinner.
Book the guitar concert ↗Quick answer
Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the start, at Rua Conselheiro José Silvestre Ribeiro 39 in Funchal. A welcome drink is served in the garden unless it rains. The entrance has a few stairs, the church has no restroom, and cameras, recordings, bare feet and pets are not allowed. Plan dinner before or after, as the ticket covers only the concert, the drink and the gifts.
Find the church
Booking names the meeting point as Igreja Presbiteriana da Madeira, at Rua Conselheiro José Silvestre Ribeiro 39 in Funchal. Type the address into a map app before setting out, because the church sits in its own garden behind a street gate. Wikipedia says the São Martinho parish includes the Lido hotel zone. If you are staying nearby, allow a little time to find the gate. The church sits in a parish that Wikipedia calls highly urbanised.
How early to arrive
The booking page asks guests to be there 20 to 30 minutes before the concert starts. A visitor who came 30 minutes early felt it was too long, as many people sat waiting in the church. The quartet replied that it recommends 30 minutes so that guests can enjoy the welcome glass of Madeira wine and check in without rushing. A sensible middle is to be at the gate about 25 minutes early, with time for the garden. Wikipedia says latecomers to classical concerts wait for a pause between pieces.
The garden drink
A welcome drink is served in the garden, says the booking page, and because there is no indoor space to serve it, it is not available when it rains. The quartet's replies to visitors speak of a welcome glass of Madeira wine. Wikipedia describes Madeira as a fortified wine and says it is popular as an aperitif. A small gift is given on arrival, and a second one after the concert. Madeira wine comes in four main styles, from sweetest to driest: Malvasia, Bual, Verdelho and Sercial.
Stairs and access
The booking page says the concert is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs, because there are a few stairs at the entrance. It also lists people with mobility impairments among those the concert is not suited to. If a wheelchair, walker or pushchair is part of your party, pick another outing. The church has no restroom, so plan a stop beforehand. The church has no indoor space for serving drinks and no restroom, so the garden and the nave are all there is.
House rules
The booking page bans cameras, filming and sound recording, as well as bare feet, and keeps animals out, although assistance dogs are welcome. Bachelor and bachelorette groups are excluded. Wikipedia describes the usual habits of classical concerts: devices are turned off, coughs are muffled and applause between movements is a minor faux pas. Follow the quartet's lead if you are unsure when to clap. The host's languages are English and Portuguese, and any questions on the night are best asked before the music starts.
Weather and clothes
Wikipedia describes Funchal's climate as subtropical, warm all year, and some visitors on the booking page say the church feels warm on hot evenings. Dress in light layers, wear shoes you can walk in and take something to fan yourself if you run hot. If it rains the drink moves off the programme, so a small umbrella is more useful than a wrap. Wikipedia describes an early summer cloud layer over the bay as Funchal's helmet, a reminder that skies change.
Dinner and getting home
The ticket covers the concert, a welcome drink and two small gifts, not a meal. Eat before, or leave an hour afterwards for a table in Funchal. Work out the way back to your hotel before the last chord, on foot, by taxi from the street or by a ride booked on your phone, and keep the church address to hand. Plan the evening around the hour: a meal beforehand or afterwards, one hour of music and a drink in the garden make a sound shape.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive?
The booking page asks for 20 to 30 minutes before the start. The quartet recommends 30 minutes if you want to enjoy the welcome drink without rushing.
What if it rains?
The welcome drink is not served, because there is no indoor space to pour it. The concert goes on inside the church.
Does the church have a restroom?
No. The booking page says the church has no restroom facilities, so plan a stop beforehand.
Can I take pictures?
No. Cameras, filming and sound recording are all barred, according to the booking page.
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