Description of the attraction
The Church of the Souls of Terceiros was built in the years 1746-1763 in the Baroque style. The architect Antonio Mendes Coutinho, who erected this temple, was a disciple and follower of the famous Italian architect and artist Nicola Nasoni, who built many buildings in Portugal, including the Clerigos Church in the city of Porto and the Episcopal Palace.
The Church of the Souls of Terceiros was built in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, which is why it is also called the Church of the Souls Terceiros de San Francisco. A long monumental staircase leads to the church. The outer walls at the bottom are decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis. There is a small bell tower on top. It is the presence of the bell tower that is typical of the church architecture of the Baroque style.
On the facade of the building there are two large windows at the bottom, and above them there is a small round window, which in architecture is called "window-eye". The main entrance of the church is made in the form of a gate and from above is skillfully decorated with a relief pattern and recesses. The entrance to the church is crowned with a heraldic shield and a curved pediment.
The church inside has one rectangular nave, the ceiling is made in the form of a cylindrical dome. The main chapel of the church is octagonal in shape, the roof is made in the form of a dome and covered with bricks. In the chapel, a beautiful rococo-style altarpiece, made of gold and carved in wood, attracts attention. Inside, the walls of the temple are decorated with panels of azulesos tiles of white and blue color, depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis of Assisi. There is an organ, which is decorated with two angels playing instruments.
