Capela São Francisco

Whispers of history echo around Capela São Francisco. They tell tales of faith, resilience, and transformation. Our journey begins in the heart of São Paulo, at Largo de São Francisco. Capela São Francisco stands proudly beside two significant companions: the Church of the Wounds of the Seraphic Father Saint Francis and the prestigious Law School of the University of São Paulo. Originally part of the larger Church and Convent of Saint Francis, Capela São Francisco has witnessed centuries of change. The Franciscan friars, arriving from Bahia in 1639, first sought refuge in the Church of Saint Anthony. Finding the location unsuitable, they petitioned the City Council and in 1642, were granted land on the edge of the city’s original hilltop settlement. This land became the site of their new convent, inaugurated in 1647. The convent church underwent extensive renovations in the mid-18th century. Embracing the Baroque style, it was redesigned with a single nave and adorned with intricately carved altarpieces in the transept. The exquisite rosewood choir stalls stand as a testament to the artistry of the era. Tragedy struck in the late 19th century when a devastating fire ravaged the church and convent. A new altarpiece, imported from Germany, replaced the damaged original. The curved ceiling of the nave, adorned with paintings depicting the life of St. Francis, was restored in 1953, recreating the artwork lost in the fire. Capela São Francisco, known as the Chapel of the Third Order, has its own unique story. In 1676, the Secular Franciscan Order initiated the construction of a small chapel within the larger Franciscan church. Inaugurated in 1787, this humble chapel gradually expanded. It eventually became an independent temple, its facade connected to the convent church. The convent building itself embarked on a new chapter in the 1820s. The Franciscans relinquished their home to the imperial government. The building was repurposed to house the Academy of Social and Legal Sciences, the precursor to the present-day Law School of the University of São Paulo. The original convent structure was demolished in 1933, making way for a neo-colonial style building designed by Ricardo Severo. As you stand before Capela São Francisco, imagine the echoes of prayers, the scent of incense, and the hushed reverence of generations past. It stands as a symbol of enduring faith and a reminder of the ever-evolving tapestry of São Paulo’s history.