“Did you bring your sunglasses?” I ask. The Church of São Francisco is known as the Golden Church. Its interior is covered with about 300 kilograms of gold dust.
Welcome to the Church of São Francisco. It is the most prominent Gothic monument in Porto. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan Order established itself in Porto around 1223. They faced opposition from local religious figures. Pope Innocent V intervened to grant them land. Construction of the convent and a small church began around 1244. This church was dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi.
King Ferdinand I supported the construction of a larger church in 1383. This new church was completed around 1425. Its design was relatively plain Gothic. The Church of São Francisco is now the best example of Gothic architecture in Porto.
Prominent Porto families chose the Church of São Francisco as their pantheon. The Chapel of St. John the Baptist is a notable example. It was built in the 1530s for the Carneiro family. It features the Manueline style. The main artistic campaign occurred in the 18th century. The interior was covered in Portuguese gilt wood work in Baroque style. The Baroque altarpieces are among the best in Portugal.
A fire destroyed the old cloisters in 1832 during the siege of Porto. The Stock Exchange Palace replaced it. It is a magnificent example of 19th-century Neoclassical architecture.
The main façade has a large rose window in Gothic style. The west portal is now a Baroque work. It features solomonic columns and a statue of St. Francis. The south portal faces the river. It remains Gothic. It has a triangular gable decorated with a pentagram. The inner moulding features a Mudéjar design.
The church has a nave with three aisles. The central aisle is the highest. The east end features a transept and an apse with three chapels. Large windows illuminate the crossing area. A polychrome granite statue of Saint Francis of Assisi stands inside. It dates back to the 13th century. It is a remnant of the first St. Francis church.
Noble families chose St. Francis as their pantheon during the 15th and 16th centuries. The old pantheon for the family of Luís Álvares de Sousa is located near the entrance. It has a Gothic portal decorated with a coat-of-arms. The Chapel of Saint John the Baptist was built around 1534. Architect Diogo de Castilho designed it. It has a beautiful portal and rib vaulting in Manueline style.
The lateral aisles and apse chapels were decorated with gilt wood work in the 18th century. This is the most notable feature of the Church of São Francisco. The Baroque gilt work covers almost completely the roofs, pillars, window frames and chapels. It hides the underlying mediaeval architecture. It is considered one of the most outstanding in Portugal.
The Tree of Jesse is particularly important. Filipe da Silva and António Gomes carved this polychromed woodwork. It represents a family tree of Jesus. Twelve kings of Judah are connected through branches. Joseph is on top of the tree. The niches contain statues of St. Anne and St. Joachim.
The catacomb is another significant aspect of the Church of São Francisco. Members of Porto’s noble families and Franciscan monks are buried here. There is also an ossuary with thousands of bones. Some are visible through a glass floor.
The Church of São Francisco stands as a testament to Porto’s rich history. Its blend of Gothic architecture and Baroque decoration tells a story of faith. It also showcases artistic evolution and cultural significance. Its golden interior is a breathtaking sight. Its historical layers provide a glimpse into Porto’s past.