Monastery of São Francisco - Guimarães

The history of the Franciscan Order in Guimarães dates back to 1217. After a very precarious first period, the Franciscans of Guimarães settled in 1271 in an inn next to the city walls, where they built a monastery . During this early period, the friars often came into conflict with the Collegiate Church of Guimarães, which tried to prevent the order from establishing itself in the city.

The Franciscan monastery next to the walls did not last long, as in 1325 the building had to be demolished by order of King Dinis because it threatened the safety of the city in the event of a siege. The friars moved to precarious housing until 1400 , when King João I had the monastery rebuilt on the site where it still stands today . The work lasted most of the 15th century.

The greatest change of the Modern Period took place in the 1740s , when the nave of the church was completely changed. Around this time, the new altarpiece in the choir was made by Miguel Francisco da Silva and executed by Manuel da Costa Andrade, as well as several other gilded wood carvings that decorate the church.

Willem Vandenameele