Convent of Saint Antony, Franciscan convent and church in São Luís, Brazil

The Convent of Saint Antony stands on Praça Antônio Lobo beside the Escola Modelo Benedito Leite in central São Luís, next to the Capela Bom Jesus dos Navegantes, which was built by French Capuchins in 1613 and later attached to the church. The Franciscan convent was begun in August 1624 under governor Francisco Coelho de Carvalho, founded by friar Cristóvão de Lisboa. The church was inaugurated on 17 January 1867 after reconstruction led by friar Vicente de Jesus and engineer Francisco Cesar da Silva Amaral.

The convent was founded in August 1624 by the Franciscan friar Cristóvão de Lisboa, next to the Capela Bom Jesus dos Navegantes, during the governorship of Francisco Coelho de Carvalho. It served as the first barracks of the Maranhão provincial police corps, founded in 1836. Reconstruction began on 1 September 1856 under friar Vicente de Jesus, and the church was inaugurated on 17 January 1867 after engineer Francisco Cesar da Silva Amaral completed the work.

The convent's name comes from Saint Anthony, to whom the church is dedicated. The Capela de Bom Jesus dos Navegantes, attached to the church, holds a burial collection of high Catholic clergy and elite families of Maranhão. From its pulpit, Father Antônio Vieira is said to have preached the famous "Sermon of Saint Anthony to the Fish" in 1654, a veiled critique of the high society of the time.

Visitors can examine the building's architectural details and colonial craft techniques up close, especially in the courtyards and garden areas. It helps to spend time exploring both courtyards and the gardens to see how the different spaces connect and function together.

The building demonstrates clever solutions for tropical challenges, including ventilation systems and water management that combined European traditions with local needs. These practical adjustments allowed the structure to work well in a completely different climate.