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The Church of São Francisco is one of essential tourist attractions of Porto. Even if you are not a lover of religious buildings, we guarantee that this masterpiece of the portuense architecture will leave you speechless.
Are you planning a trip through North of Portugal? If you’re looking for tips of places to see in Porto, write down the name of this church, to include it on your itinerary through the old city. Join us and see it through our eyes.
The church of the convent of São Francisco is located in downtown, just in the heart of the old city of Porto. Along with Clérigos church and the Cathedral, it’s one of its religious monuments and the most important church in the city, declared National Monument in 1910 and National Heritage since 1996.
You cannot miss the visit to the church of São Francisco (Rua do Infante Dom Henrique). If, for example, you have thought to spend a day visiting Ribeira, just over 300 meters away from the Douro shores raises an imposing artistic complex characterized by an evolution and artistic enrichment that has made it one of the wealthiest in Portugal.
In front of us, on the outside, stands a sober initial 14th century Franciscan Gothic structure in which time has not stopped. In the 19th century, at the end of the Siege of Porto, a fire destroyed the old cloister, a part of the church and the portal. Nowadays, the only element of the original facade that still exists is the twelve-section rose window and the statue of Saint Francisco that stands over the main facade.
Let’s get in. Without a doubt, the best is yet to come. When the visitor opens the doors, the most surprising thing is the extraordinary decoration of the interior in Baroque style. At first sight, we see three cross-vaulted naves, decorated by wood carvings that were covered with golden leaves in the 18th century. And the tour has only just begun.
Above everything else, stands out the baroque wealth of the altarpiece and the carvings, made of Brazilian wood and gold from the 17th century to the mid-18th century. The rich decoration, with more than 400 kilos of gold leaf, also links us to the history and time of the conquest and colonization of Portugal. The ostentatious air that this decoration gives to the church, led to it being closed to the public, in order to not make uncomfortable the population affected by economic hardships.
As we go through the interior, we will be able to see the stylistic and decorative varieties that have made this monumental complex one of the wealthiest in Portugal. Around the central nave, we can see a set of Manueline chapels built in the 16th century with donations from noble families.
In the side nave, we will stop at one of the most important works of the church, the Tree of Jesse, a wooden sculpture of extraordinary beauty that represents the family tree from King David to Jesus Christ.
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Another of the key attractions of the set of São Francisco are its catacombs. Built in the second half of the 18th century and housing the remains of brothers of the Franciscan Order, as well as some of the city's noble families.
As a curiosity, there is an ossuary with thousands of bones that can be seen through a glass on the ground. We must think that until 1845 there were no public cemeteries, and burials were made in churches.
On the same tour, we can visit the São Francisco Museum, built at the same time by the architect Nasoni, who also made the Clérigos Tower. We can see here the session room, the treasure room and a religious art exhibition.
You can take advantage of the visit to San Francisco to see the Palácio da Bolsa, located a short distance away and which, in fact, became part of the Franciscan convent itself.
If you’re trying to figure out what to see in Porto, the São Francisco church is a must-see. With the Old Town tour you will be able to enjoy this jewel of Porto through the eyes of our guides. They will tell you in great detail the history of this church and of the other treasures of the medieval city of Porto. We are waiting for you!
