St. Francis Convent

St. Francis Convent
Convento de São Francisco stands at the edge of the town of Almodôvar, and is easily reached by the Rua da Constituição or by the Rua do Convento.

Founded in the 17th century, and having been built where an ancient chapel consecrated to Our Lady of the Conception used to stand, it is formed by the church and the conventual building.

The exterior architecture reveals the popular taste of the Mannerist period, and the main façade exhibits a triangular fronton and a lateral bell-tower.

An arch leads to the doorway, with a large stone cross standing in front.

The church, of modest dimensions, is formed by a single nave with a semi-circular vault.

It displays gilded wood-work altars from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the main chapel is decorated with glazed tiles in shades of blue.

On the walls and the ceiling, paintings representing the Nativity scene and the marriage of Mary and Joseph are still visible.

Next to the church, the convent is built around a cloister with arches, of Franciscan simplicity.