Church of São Francisco

About this place

This church combines a Gothic structure with elaborate Baroque interior decoration. The contrast records changing religious tastes and patterns of patronage over several centuries. Compare the relatively restrained architectural shell with the richly worked surfaces inside to appreciate how later generations transformed the space. The later decorative programme did not require the complete replacement of the medieval building. Instead, the old structure became a setting for a new visual language. This makes the church a particularly clear example of adaptation, allowing visitors to compare the long life of a religious institution with the changing tastes of its patrons.