Estátua de João Gonçalves Zarco (Statue of João Gonçalves Zarco), Funchal

The Statue of João Gonçalves Zarco, located in the city of Funchal is a historical monument that pays tribute to a prominent Portuguese navigator and noble knight. João Gonçalves Zarco was appointed by the Infante to manage the Island of Madeira and organize its settlement in the early 15th century.

To preserve the memory of João Gonçalves Zarco, the Governing Board entrusted the sculptor Francisco Franco with the task of creating this statue. The architect Cristiano da Silva was charged with the design of the foundation, where allegoric figures relating to the Discoveries, such as Conquer, Settlement, Wisdom, and Evangelisation, are depicted. The statue was erected in 1914.

After the final location at the intersection of Arriaga Avenue and Zarco Avenue was chosen, the monument was eventually inaugurated in 1934. A former version of this statue won the gold medal in the Iberian-American Exhibition in Seville in 1929.