IGREJA DE SÃO FRANCISCO
This glittering church, built between 1383 and 1425, is easily the city’s most impressive. It is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Portugal and was declared a national monument in 1910. Like many buildings in Porto it has undergone numerous additions and alterations over the years. The lavish interior is filled with breathtaking talha dourada, gilded woodcarvings that occupy almost every surface – unlike the modest Franciscan order, the elite patrons of the Catholic Church liked to flaunt their wealth.
NEED TO KNOW
Rua do Infante Dom Henrique • www.ordemsaofrancisco.pt • Open Mar–Jun & Oct: 9am–7pm daily; Jul–Sep: 9am–8pm daily; Nov–Feb: 9am–5:30pm daily; • Adm €4.50
- Just to the left of the main entrance stands one of Portugal’s oldest murals. It dates back to the 15th century and depicts Nossa Senhora da Rosa (Our Lady of the Mystic Rose).
- Throughout the three naves of the church there are several altar pieces made in different eras by various masters.
- For light refreshments, the nearby restaurant Jimão Tapas e Vinhos serves excellent petiscos close to the waterfront.
Igreja de São Francisco Floorplan
1. Nave
The central aisle is like something out of a fairy tale. The immense amount of gold used by the master gilders is believed to weigh more than 400 kg (880 lb).
2. Museum
Spread over two floors, the museum in the Dispatch House hosts permanent exhibitions on the Franciscan order and the history of Porto.
3. Granite Statue of St Francis of Assisi
The polychrome granite sculpture of St Francis is located in a niche just on the right through the main entrance. Dating from the 13th century, it is one of few pieces to have survived from the original church.
4. Main Altar
The main altar, backlit by tall windows, forms a dramatic focal point to the main chapel. Dating from 1718, the altarpieces are surrounded by gilded Solomonic columns and overlooked by sculptures of Franciscan monks from both sides of the apse.
5. Wooden Carvings
Generously funded by donations from Porto’s wealthiest patrons, the interior of the church was lavishly decorated with extraordinary talha dourada during the 17th and 18th centuries. The elaborately carved and decorated wood covers almost every inch of the building’s interior.
An elaborately carved wooden sculpture at Igreja de São Francisco
6. Tree of Jesse
A multicoloured altarpiece depicting the genealogy of Christ is one of the most eye-catching segments of the interior. Teachings about the lineage of Christ were especially popular in the 18th century, appearing in various forms including stained glass, paintings and woodcarvings.
The Tree of Jesse
7. Rose Window
The west portal has been heavily altered over time and the only original Gothic feature on this side of the church is the beautiful rose window.
The Rose Window at Igreja de São Francisco
8. South Portal
Unlike the Baroque west façade, the south portal, overlooking the river, has largely retained its modest Gothic style. A triangular gable, adorned with a pentagram can be seen above the Islamic-style decorative moulding of the portal.
9. Catacombs
The remains of some of the members of the Franciscan order are buried in the eerie catacombs in the crypt below the church. A macabre ossuary is visible below a grate in the floor in the corner.
The Catacombs beneath Igreja de São Francisco
10. Chapel of Saint John the Baptist
Portuguese architect Diogo de Castilho made the Capela São Baptista in the south transept arm. A carved portal opens onto a Baroque altar and a 16th-century painting of the baptism of Christ. The Manueline-style rib vaulted ceiling is of particular note.
