Eternal golden beauty
Igreja de São Francisco (Church of Saint Francis)
A rose window above the entrance and a few sculptures are the only embellishment of this church with the gray stone façade and the plain Gothic exterior. However, the inside of the church has something completely different in store. The guild work of the cathedral is considered the most beautiful in Portugal - many argue that it is the finest in all of Europe. It is estimated that 400 kilograms of gold were used to complete this amazing Baroque style guild work. Floral motifs, leaves, fruits, animals, and cherubs are immersed in a rich layer of gold leaf. Despite the golden opulence of this church, which is located in the city's historic center, Napoleon the Great used it as his stable when he occupied Porto in the early 19th century. Wasn't that a strange choice?
As seen on
Porto City Tour: the city of port wine
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