The Church of Saint Francis

Here we are in front of one of the most stunning examples of Baroque architecture in all of Portugal! It went under a long period of construction from the 13th to the 18th century to finally present this beautiful facade, blending both Romanesque and Gothic styles. Yes, the exterior is beautiful, but wait until you see the interior! In the early 18th century, the three naves went under complete renovation, to present this lovely golden woodwork today. It required a lot of work at the time, as more than 300kg of gold dust were used to entirely cover the interior. Consequently, it’s no surprise if I tell you that this church is reputated for being the most decorated in the whole country! You’re probably wondering, how is it possible to have this much gold? Well, let’s go back in time. Portugal used to be a colonial empire, and Brazil was one of its most valuable colonies. The region of Minas Gerais was abundant in gold and silver, so large quantities were extracted and brought back to Europe. Consequently, churches like Saint Francis were covered in gold. At first, locals didn’t fully embrace this lavish appearance. In fact, the building remained closed for several years because it looked so out of place in this modest neighborhood. While some churches can be visited for free, this one requires an entry ticket. In this radiant interior, you’ll find that the most remarkable feature is, of course, a gilded woodwork but this one is carved in the altar, next to the choir. It represents the Tree of Jesse, which retraces the genealogy of Jesus. For all thrill-seeking ones out there, you can visit the church’s catacombs, where you’ll find an ossuary holding the bones of over a thousand individuals.