Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Church of San Francisco
While not the largest cathedral in town, the Church of San Francisco is considered by many to
be Porto's most beautiful. The church's simple 14
th
century gothic and baroque shell belies its
lavish, gilded interior. Pure gold — reportedly 400 grams of it — covers arches, cherubs and
columns inside. The Church of San Francisco is one of the few remaining medieval structures
in Porto and its only gothic church.
Its interior was remodeled with baroque features in the 17
th
and 18
th
centuries. Elegant
carvings create a beautiful golden box design. Another interesting feature is the church's
catacombs, which still hold bodies to this day. The small museum across the square is also
worth a visit to see artifacts from the former monastery.
