Melmaryns - A Medieval Market Town

The Mel Maryns is a family of churches based in Portugal and is situated on the coast at Funchal. The island of Madeira is just an hour and forty minute boat ride away from the church. The Portuguese called Melmoy, which mean 'Merry of the Salt Water', and the name was given to the island because it was thought to be salt water in the early days. They were not the first church in the area to be established, but they were the first to convert to the Roman Catholic faith, and they remain strongly Catholic today.

The original congregation was made up mainly of Portuguese fishermen and by the 15th Century, the number of people taking refuge in the church had risen to more than ten thousand. In the 17th Century a new school was built and its congregation swelled to nearly one hundred. This growth continued until the end of the century, when a great fire destroyed the old church and the rebuilt church was reduced to rubble.

Today the main church is the cathedral of Sintra, which is the biggest building in town. The remaining parts of the church are a huge octagonal building surrounded by arches and flanked by several tall statues. In addition to being the largest building in town, it is also home to a fine collection of artifacts and memorabilia. The majority of visitors to Melmaryns are impressed by the architecture and take some time to marvel at the beautiful mosaic tiles that line the colonnades along the walls. Many of these tiles have been preserved unscathed and are on display for all to see.

The most popular attraction outside Melmaryns is the Santa Maria de Gracia, which is near the centre of the village. It is a large ruin of what was the parish church. In the medieval times the entire parish was suppressed and during the Reconciliation process a local saint was buried here. You can also visit the ruins of the old Cathedral.

The main area of Melmaryns is dominated by two magnificent buildings - the church and the abbey. The abbey was built during the Middle Ages as a mansion and is still used as a hotel today. The church, which was founded in the eleventh century, is listed on the UNESCO register of world heritage sites. It is believed that it was the centre of the medical and dental profession in the Middle Ages. During the Reformation period the abbey was destroyed but rebuilded in the Renaissance style.

Melmaryns is small and is well preserved, so there are many self-catering apartments available. The closest supermarket to the town is the Santa Maria de Gracia. The Old Hall is open to visitors on certain Wednesdays. There is an interesting museum within the church which contains medieval paintings. The museum has a large range of artifacts from the Middle Ages and Renaissance period.