Church of San Francisco, Viveiro, Gothic Catholic church in Viveiro, Spain
The Church of San Francisco is a Gothic Catholic building in Viveiro with a single nave arranged in Latin cross form and a pentagonal apse featuring five pointed windows. Inside, multiple altarpieces and chapels fill the space, including a Renaissance work from the Netherlands and an 18th-century Baroque creation.
Franciscan friars began construction of this religious building in the 13th century, with three original arches discovered during restoration work in the 1940s. These findings revealed elements of the earliest building phases and offered insights into the monastery's original structure.
The building reflects different artistic periods through its chapels and altarpieces, each created by craftspeople from distinct eras. Visitors can observe the carved details and painted surfaces that show what mattered most to people across the centuries.
The building stands in the historic center of Viveiro and functions as an active parish church with regular religious services. Visitors should keep in mind that opening hours align with worship activities and quiet behavior is expected during prayer times.
The building preserves the tombs of notable figures, including Blessed Constanza de Castro and poet Nicomedes Pastor Díaz within its interior spaces. These burial sites give the church connection to both local religious history and the region's literary heritage.
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