Convent and Church of São Francisco

Category: Religious Architecture > Place of Worship

District: Bragança > Mogadouro > Mogadouro > Mogadouro, Valverde, Vale de Porco e Vilar de Rei

Location

Located in the village of Mogadouro, in the district of Bragança, the Convent and Church of São Francisco stands in a central and urban area. Surrounded by the traditional village houses and with some green space in its vicinity, the complex integrates into the daily life of the locality, offering a glimpse of its history at the heart of this Trás-os-Montes community.

A 17th-Century Legacy

This architectural complex has its roots in the 17th century, with construction beginning around 1620, driven and financed by D. Luís Álvares de Távora. Originally, the building served as a male convent for the Third Order of Saint Francis. Over the centuries, the complex faced challenges, including major fires in 1885 and 1927, which necessitated significant restoration works. Today, while the church retains its religious purpose, the former conventual area houses the services of the Mogadouro City Council, reflecting a remarkable adaptation of its historical structure to modern times.

Architecture and its Details

The church features a Latin cross plan with three naves, revealing the influence of Jesuit constructions of the era. The main facade, in stonework, stands out with a porticoed gallery composed of three full arches, topped by straight-opening windows and a niche housing the image of Saint Francis. To the left, a four-story bell tower rises imposingly, topped by a pyramidal roof with pinnacles at the corners. Upon entering, visitors will find an interior with a granite slab floor, where several tombs are visible in the transept area, evidence of ancient burials.

The Splendour of Gilded Woodcarving

Inside the church, artistic richness unfolds in various decorative details. The choir loft is particularly notable, with a richly decorated wooden choir stall on its arms and backrests, displaying a variety of figures including lions, cats, dogs, tigers, owls, pelicans, as well as classical anthropomorphic representations and vegetal motifs, in a meticulous work of sculpture. The various side altars and the main altar constitute a significant testament to the art of woodcarving, many of them ornamented with Solomonic columns and intricate vegetal and zoomorphic reliefs. On the main altar, in particular, one can appreciate paintings illustrating passages from the life of Saint Francis, while the presence of owls at the top of the pilasters refers to the heraldry of the Távora family, linking the space to its founding history.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt