Description of the attraction
Not far from the Douro River, next to Ribeira, is one of the most famous churches in the city of Porto - the Church of St. Francisco. The church is located in the historic center of the city, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1233 the building of the church was laid, but it was built only in 1400.
The building was built in the Gothic style and is famous for the interior decoration in the Baroque style, made in the 18th century. Altars, fences, columns and vaults are covered with carved gilded wood depicting garlands, angels and animals. About 200 kilograms of gold powder were used to make these decorations.
The main façade of the Franciscan church is decorated with a large and elaborately executed rose window in the Gothic style. This window is the only original decoration of the main facade of the building. The western portal of the church is made in the Baroque style, decorated with Solomon pillars and a statue of St. Francis, whose figure was carved from a single piece of granite. The southern portal, which overlooks the river, is also made in the Gothic style and has a triangular pediment with a pentagram. It can be reached by climbing the steps leading from the main façade. The portal entrance is composed of a group of Gothic archivolts, and the inside of the profile is decorated with a Mudejar (Islamic influence) arcade.
Among the church's altars, the most impressive of them attracts attention - the altar in the north side nave with the famous "Tree of Jesse", a gilded composition in the form of a tree trunk with branches that support twelve sculptures. The Tree of Jesse is the genealogy of Christ with the image of the twelve kings of Israel.
