Description of the attraction
The monastery and church of São Francisco are located in the parish of São Sebastian in Guimaraes. This architectural complex is considered one of the most outstanding monuments in the city.
The construction of the church began in the 13th century, during the reign of King Afonso III, when representatives of the Franciscan monastic order first appeared in Guimaraes. The monks were accommodated in a hotel that was located next to the city walls. They decided to build a monastery nearby. However, the authorities of the city of Guimarães were against this construction, since conflicts arose periodically between them and the Franciscans. The monastery did not last long. In 1325, the building of the monastery was demolished by order of King Dinis, on the pretext that such a building endangered the safety of the inhabitants in the event of an attack on Guimaraes. The monks moved to shacks and lived there until 1400. In this year, the monastery building began to be restored by order of King João I, who was also called João the Good or João the Great.
The restoration of the monastery buildings lasted almost until the 15th century. The apse of the church was completed in 1461 and retains the original features of the Gothic style. In the 16th century, a covered gallery was built in the Mannerist style. The biggest changes in the architecture of the church took place in the 1740s: the arches and columns of the nave were removed, and one large monumental arch was installed between the transept and the nave. The altarpiece was installed, on which Miguel Francisco da Silva and Manuel da Costa Andrade worked. Also, engravings decorated with gold appeared inside the church.
